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CONSPIRACY 



OF 



THE SPANIARDS/'t •'' 



AGAtNST THE 



REPUBLIC OF VENICE, 



IN 1618. 



I JTHE 



TRANSLATED FROM Jf HE FRENCH OF THE 
ABBE ST. REAL. 



BOSTONNC>>i 

OTIS, BROADERS AND 

1838. 




'as 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Year 1837, 

By Otis, Beoaders & Co., 

HI the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 



Alfred Mudge, Printer, 
No. 12 School Street. 



O'"" 



\\ 



PREFACE 



The translator need offer no apologies to the 
public for presenting them this little volume, 
upon v/hich is founded one of the most thrilling 
tragedies of our language, and the plot of which, 
man}^ no doubt, have believed to exist only in the 
imagination of the poet. The present age will 
hardly agree with the author in his eulogiums 
on the government of Venice. But, although 
detestable in its tyranny, which exceeded that 
of the most despotic monarchies of Europe, and 
for the secrecy with which it was conducted, yet 
we cannot justify the attempt made to overthrow 
it by means which would alike have attacked 
the innocent and the guilty, and have also placed 
it under the power of a government scarcely less 
arbitrary. The translator has endeavoured to 



4 PREFACE. 

render the literal meaning of the author as nearly 
as the different idioms of the two languages would 
allow, and with many hopes of its favourable re- 
ception by those who will not feel less interest in 
the reality of the existence of Pierre and Jaffier, 
than could have been experienced in witnessing 
their personation on the stage, it is sent forth ** to 
strut its little hour," and then to be forgotten. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Of all the histories of human events there are 
none more interesting than those of conspiracies ; 
courage, prudence and fidelity, which are equally 
requisite in all who participate in them, are 
qualities rare in their nature, and still more 
rarely found united in the same person. Men 
often flatter themselves with possessing more of 
the affection of their associates than in reality 
belongs to them, especially if they are conscious 
of meriting it, and have exerted themselves to 
please. Some leaders of conspiracies have placed 
entire dependance upon the regard of their col- 
leagues ; but there are few friendships stronger 
than the fear of death, and this fear often over- 
comes the judgment in unforseen events; the 
discretion which is necessary on such occasions, 
never accompanies it, and most persons who are 
extremely anxious are apt to betray themselves. 

If a conspirator is so intelligent that there is 
no danger of his committing an imprudence, he 
seldom interests so powerfully the feelings, as 
those who are less discerning. His knowledge 



6 INTRODUCTION. 

of the extent of the peril to which he is exposed, 
the various parts he must perform to escape from 
it, the uncertainty of the advantages he may 
derive from the enterprise, the recompense he 
would receive for discovering it, render him 
rather feared than beloved. 

Experience is the foundation of knowledge, 
and men seldom reason justly on the first trans- 
action with which they are connected. The 
wisest are those who profit by the faults they 
have committed, and by their consequences re- 
ceive instruction for the better regulation of their 
conduct in future. Whatever experience may 
be obtained in other affairs,, there can be no cer- 
tainty of conducting a conspiracy with success, 
as there is no com.parison between the peril and 
difficulty attending such an undertaking and 
that of any other transaction. To avoid com- 
mitting any considerable error, it is necessary to 
have been already concerned in an affair of the 
kind; but the same person is seldom twice a 
conspirator. If the first attempt succeeds, the 
advantages derived from it prevents the necessity 
of again incurring the same risk ; and no one, 
after a failure, if so fortunate as to escape, would 
willingly hazard his life a second time. 

It is also to be considered, that however we 
may abhor tyrants, self-love is generally more 



INTRODUCTION. / 

powerful than any hatred we can feel towards 
them. It is not sufficient for a conspirator to be 
faithful, if he is not convinced of the fidelity of 
his colleagues. A chief ought to respect all the 
ridiculous forms which terror may take as well 
as the more solid difficulties that are to be en- 
countered, as both are equally capable of ruining 
the enterprise. A word or movement, although 
made without any reference to the subject, are 
sometimes sufficient to induce a belief of treach- 
ery, and hasten the event. A change of time or 
place, which, in itself, is of no importance, fre- 
quently intimidates, merely because it has not 
been anticipated; and men are so constituted, 
that, feeling culpable, they imagine others know 
them to be so, and apply to themselves all that is 
said or done in their presence. 

If these difficulties are great in conspiracies 
which have for their object the death of but one 
person, how much more formidable are they in 
those which attack a number, and tend to the 
usurpation of a city or a state, and wdiich, of 
course, require more time to regulate, and more 
persons to execute them. 

These considerations have always made me 
regard such enterprises as the parts of history 
most moral and instructive, and have induced 
me to give an account of the conspiracy in 



b INTRODUCTION, 

Venice, conducted by a Spanish -Ambassador in 
the year 1618. 

Perhaps my judgment may be misled by my 
attachment to the subject of which I have under- 
taken to treat ; but it appears to me that it is 
peculiarly calculated to show what prudence or 
chance may effect in the affairs of the world, the 
whole extent of the human mind, its various 
limits, its greatest elevations, and its most secret 
weaknesses ; the infinite number of resources it 
must possess to govern men, and to discover the 
proper use of subtilty, and the difference between 
skill and finesse. As malice is more detestable 
when it abuses that which is excellent, great 
horror will be excited by this history, in which 
the most admirable qualities are used for a vile 
purpose. A Greek sage seeing a criminal persist 
in a falsehood with wonderful constancy amidst 
the most horrible tortures, could not forbear ex" 
claiming, *^ Oh ! vrretch, why employ for so bad 
a purpose that which is in itself so estimable," 

This conspiracy is mentioned in the history of Nani, hook 
3d p. 156, and in the 5th vol. of the " Mercure Francais," of 
the year 1618 p. 38, there is a letter from Venice dated the 2 1st 
of May of the same 3-ear. The principal works from which 
this recital is taken, such as the narrative of the Marquis of 
Bedemar, the despatch of the Capt. Jacques Pierre to the 
Duke of Ossuno, the deposition of Jaflier, the criminal process 
against the conspirators and many others, are to be found 
among the manuscripts of the national library, and the " Sqnit- 
tinio della liberta Veneta " is amongst the printed books. The 
rest is drawn from various other manuscnpts, 



CONSPIRACY 

OF THE SPANIARDS, 

AGAINST THE REPUBLIC OF VENICE, 

ANNO 1618. 

The controversy between Paul 5th and the 
Republic of Venice having been adjusted by 
France v^ith the honor and glory which were 
merited by the holy See and the Venetians, the 
Spaniards alone felt there was any cause for 
dissatisfaction. As they had declared for the 
Pope, and had offered to subjugate the Venetians 
by their arms, they were irritated that they had 
no participation in the treaty ; but having pen- 
etrated the secret of the arrangement, they knew 
they had no cause of complaint against the holy 
Father, and that the contempt which had been 
shown them originated in the Republic. It was 
the Senate who had wished to exclude them en- 
tirely from the mediation, under the pretext that 
they could not be arbiters after having evinced 
so much partiality. 



10 CONSPIRACY OF 

Whatever resentment they felt for this outrage 
they kept concealed during the life of Henry 4th. 
The obligations of this prince to the Venetians 
were too well known, and the care he had taken 
of their interests in their disputes with the court 
of Rome were not less public. But his death 
having placed the Spaniards at liberty, a pre- 
text alone was needed. 

A troop of privates called the Uscoques resided 
in the Austrian possessions on the Adriatic sea, 
and adjoining the Venetian territory. These 
robbers, who had committed an infinite number 
of outrages on the subjects of the Republic, were 
protected by the Archduke Ferdinand de Grez, 
sovereign of this country, and afterward Em- 
peror. He was a very religious prince, but his 
ministers divided the plunder with the Uscoques, 
and as they were devoted to the court of Spain, 
they took this opportunity of being revenged on 
the Venetians. 

The emperor Matthias, touched with the just 
complaints of the Republic, reconciled this dis- 
turbance at Vienna, in the month of February, 
1612 ; but this reconciliation was so badly ob- 
served on the part of the Archduke, that they 
were obliged to come to an open war, from which 
the Spaniards did not realise all the advantages 
they had anticipated. 



THE SPANIARDS. 11 

The Venetians easily repaired by their man- 
agement, the losses which they sustained in 
trifling combats. As they had nothing to fear 
from the Turks, they could better prosecute this 
war than the Archduke. This prince was press- 
ed by the Emperor to make peace, for the Grand 
Seigneur menaced Hungary, and he was also 
obliged to reserve considerable sums to favor his 
election to the kingdom of Bohemia, which took 
place soon afterward. The Spaniards would wil- 
lingly have contributed the means of continu- 
ing the war, but the controversy in which they 
were engaged with Charles Emannuel, Duke of 
Savoy, would not permit of their dividing their 
forces ; and as the duke received from the Re- 
public large sums of money, they could not de- 
tach him from his ally. 

The Spanish council were indignant at finding 
the Venetians every where successful. The mild 
and peaceable genius of Philip 3d, and of the 
Duke of Lerma, his favourite, suggested to them 
no way of extricating themselves from this dilem- 
ma ; but, one of their ministers in Italy, who was 
not so moderate as themselves, came forward to 
their assistance. 

Don Alphonso de la Gueva, Marquis of Bede- 
mar, and Ambassador to Venice, was one of the 
most powerful geniuses and dangerous minds 



12 CONSPIRACY OF 

that Spain had ever produced. It is seen by 
the writings which he has left, that he under- 
stood all that can be found in ancient and 
modern historians which could form an extra- 
ordinary man. He compared the events which 
they related with those that passed in his own 
time. He observed wherein they differed or 
possessed resemblances, and the different results 
these distinctions produced on the similitudes. 
He could generally judge of the success of an 
enterprise as soon as he knew its plans and 
foundation. If he found by the consequences 
that he had not foretold justly, he returned to 
the source of his error, and endeavoured to dis- 
cover what had deceived him. By this study he 
comprehended the sure ways, the true means, 
and the principal circumstances which presaged 
success to great designs, and which almost 
always effected it. This continual practice of 
reading, meditating, and observing on the events 
of the world, had raised his sagacity to such a 
point, that his conjectures upon the future almost 
passed in the Spanish council for prophecies. 

To this profound knowledge of the nature of 
great affairs were joined the most singular talents 
for conducting them ; a facility of speaking and 
writing in a manner inexpressibly agreeable ; a 
wonderful instinct for understanding men ; an 



THE SPANIARDS. 13 

air always gay and open, in which appeared more 
animation than gravity ; so far removed from 
dissimulation as to approach ingenuousness ; a 
temper free and complaisant, but more imj>en- 
etrable because every one believed he conld 
penetrate it ; manners tender, insinuating and 
flattering, which secretly attracted hearts the 
most difficult to conciliate ; and every appear- 
ance of perfect calmness of mind in the midst of 
the most terrible agitations. 

The Spanish Ambassadors generally possess- 
ed full control over the courts to which they 
were sent, and the Marquis of Bedemar had 
been chosen for that of Venice in 1607, as the 
most difficult of all foreign employments, and in 
which no assistance could be received from 
women, monks or favorites. The Spanish coun- 
cil were so well satisfied with his management, 
that however his assistance was needed else- 
where, they could not resolve to recall him, even 
after six years residence in Venice. 

Such a length of time enabled him to study 
the principles of that government, to discover 
its most secret resources, to distinguish wherein 
consisted its strength and weakness, and to see 
all its advantages and faults. As he saw that 
the Archduke would be compelled to conclude a 
peace which could not fail of being disgraceful 



14 CONSPIRACY OF 

to the house of Austria, because the wrong had 
proceeded from it, he resolved to undertake 
something which might prevent the success of 
any treaty with the Republic. 

He considered that, in the actual situation of 
Venice, there was nothing to render it impossible 
for him to become master of it, especially with 
the knowledge he possessed, and the force which 
he might command. The armies of the Repub- 
lic had exhausted not only its arms, but the men 
capable of bearing them. As the fleet had never 
been so fine, the Senate had never believed itself 
so formidable, or to have had less cause for fear. 
However, this invincible fleet could not remove 
from the coast of Istria, Vv hich was the seat of 
war. The army v/as no nearer, and there was 
nothing which could oppose a descent of the 
Spanish navy. , To render this invasion more 
sure, the Marquis of Bedemar intended to seize 
the principal ports, such as the place of St. Mark, 
and the Arsenal ; and as it would be diflicult to 
effect this whilst the city remained in perfect 
tranquillity, he proposed putting fire to it in the 
most susceptible places, and where it would, 
with the most difficulty, be extinguished. 

He did not make known his intentions in 
Spain, for he well understood that princes do not 
willingly explain their wishes until the success 



THE SPANIARDS. 15 

of such enterprises is so certain that nothing but 
their approbation is wanting to secure a happy 
result. He was contented with proving to the 
Duke d' Usuda, principal Secretary of State, that 
seeing the disgrace that befel the house of Aus- 
tria in the war of the Friuli, by the insolent con- 
duct of the Venetians, and that all the means of 
accommodation which had been adopted at Vi- 
enna, and elsewhere, were ignominious, he be- 
lieved himself so situated, that both nature and 
political considerations obliged a faithful subject 
to have resource to the most extraordinary means 
of preserving his prince and his country from an 
infamy otherwise inevitable ; and that this ought 
to be his particular care, for as the employment 
which he held placed continually before his eyes 
the sources of the evil to be remedied, no one 
could better judge what that remedy should be, 
and that he would endeavour to acquit himself 
of this duty in a manner worthy the zeal which 
he felt for the greatness of his master. 

The Duke d' Usuda, who understood his char- 
acter, comprehended immediately that this lan- 
guage conveyed a project equally important and 
perilous ; but as those who are prudent never 
betray a knowledge which might prove danger- 
ous, unless forced to it, he did not communicate 
his thoughts to the first minister, but replied to 



16 CONSPIRACY OF 

the Marquis of Bedemar in general terms, prais- 
ing his zeal, and that he confided the manage- 
ment entirely to his accustomed prudence. The 
Marquis, who expected no other answer, was not 
surprised at receiving one so cold, he was occu- 
pied in accomplishing his design in a manner to 
assure approbation. 

There has never existed so absolute a monar- 
chy as the supreme dominion which the Senate 
of Venice exercised over this republic. It placed 
an immeasurable distance between the patricians 
and plebeians. Nobles alone could command in 
the countries dependant on it. The first lords 
and magistrates of the land regarded its mem- 
bers rather as sovereigns than governors. If the 
Republic sometimes gave the first places in the 
army to foreigners, it was always on condition 
that they should follow implicitly the directions 
of the Venetian general in chief, and which left 
them, in reality, nothing but the power of execut- 
ing his wishes. 

As there is no pretext so plausible as war for 
taxing the people, that of the Uscoques presented 
a good occasion of enriching the nobles by whom 
it had been conducted. This war had been an 
excessive expense ; besides the money which 
was requisite in Piedmont, it was necessary to 
support a third army in Lombardy, against the 



THE SPANIARDS. 17 

governor of Milan, who was continually menacing 
to make some movement in favour of the Arch- 
duke. The justice of the cause rendered the 
commanders of the Republic more hardy in in- 
venting new vexations, but it did not tend to 
make the people more patient of suiTering. They 
expressed their feelings so openly that the Mar- 
quis of Bedemar thought, with reason, that the 
revolution v»^hich he meditated would be as agree- 
able to the people as it would be pernicious to 
the nobility. 

There were even amongst this nobility many 
persons who disliked the government, and who 
were partisans of the court of Rome. Ambitious 
and vindictive, many were irritated that the Re- 
public had been governed by other council than 
their own during its quarrel with the holy See. 
They were disposed to do and to suffer every 
thing, could they Vv^rest the authority from the 
hands in which it was now held ; and they would 
have regarded with joy the misfortunes of the 
state, as the consequences of management of 
which they had not approved. Others, simple 
and stupid, wished to be more catholic than the 
Pope. As he had withdrawn many of his pre- 
tensions in the reconciliation, they imagined that 
having been reduced to it by policy, he had still 

mentally reserved the power of excommunication, 

2 



18 CONSPIRACY OF 

and that this intention still existed in the will of 
his Holiness. Of this number were several Sena- 
tors, equally poor in the gifts of fortune and of 
mind, but who assisted the designs of the Mar- 
quis W Bedemar. He persuaded them under 
the pretence of kindness, that their consciences 
ought no longer to permit them to wish for the 
prosperity of Venice. 

Although the prohibitions were rigorous which 
forbid the nobles holding any intercourse w^ith 
foreigners, he had found the means of contract- 
ing intimacies with the most needy and discon- 
tented. The acquaintance of their connexions 
in convents, of their mistresses or their confes- 
sors, was purchased at any price, and presents 
made them, which, although of no intrinsic value, 
were prized as curiosities from foreign countries. 
This liberality, apparently without a motive, 
caused those to reflect who were the objects of 
it, in what manner they could procure more con- 
siderable advantages. With this view they sat- 
isfied his curiosity as far as was in their power, 
and diligently sought information to reply to his 
demands ; his gratitude surpassing their expec- 
tations, they allowed themselves no rest until 
they had engaged their patrons in this inter- 
course. These nobles could not behold, without 
envy, persons entirely dependant upon them be- 



THE SPANIARDS. 19 

come richer than themselves, by presents that 
were made on their account. Perhaps necessity 
actuated them, but whatever was the cause, from 
that time there was no deliberation in the Senate 
that was secret from the Spanish Ambassador ; 
he was warned of all the resolutions that were 
taken, and the generals of the Archduke were 
acquainted with those which regarded the war 
before the commanders of the Republic received 
orders to execute them. 

With this information the Ambassador needed 
but a body of military to succeed in the enter- 
prise, and as there was a powerful Spanish army 
in Lombardy, this v/ant could easily be supplied 
if ^ the Governor of Milan would enter into his 
designs. The Marquis of Inojosa, who held this 
employment, was too closely connected with the 
Duke of Savoy to consent to it ; he had just 
signed the treaty of Ast, in which France and 
Venice had acted as mediators between that 
prince and himself The Ambassador, who 
knew that this negotiation would not be approv- 
ed by Spain, wrote to have him recalled, and at 
the same time solicited the government of Milan 
for his friend, Don Pedro de Toledo, Marquis of 
Villa-Franca. Don Pedro was ordered to depart 
immediately and take the place of Inojosa about 
the end of the year 1C15. He had no sooner 



20 CONSPIRACY or 

arrired at Milan than he sent notice of it to 
Venice by the Marquis of Lara. 

The Ambassador communicated his project to 
this Marquis in the manner he thought best cal- 
culated to obtain his acquiescence, and to dis- 
cover if the new governor would allow him 15{)0 
of his best troops whenever he applied for them. 
Don Pedro, charmed by the greatness of the en- 
terprise, resolved to second it, so far as it could 
be done without risking his ruin in case of its 
failure. He sent the Marquis of Lara a second 
time to Venice to assure the Ambassador of his 
assent. But at the same time he beo^ofed him to 
consider that he could not send such men as 
would answer his purpose v;ithout a careful 
selection — that if they perished he would be in- 
excusable in having exposed the bravest soldiers 
of his army to such great danger : that he vrould, 
however, do all in his power, and that the men 
he would choose he would ansvvcr for as for 
himself 

Nothing was more important to the design of 
the Ambassador than to prevent any kind of re- 
conciliation. With this viev/ he obliged the 
Marquis of Lara to make the most unreasonable 
propositions of peace to the Senate on the part of 
the Governor of Milan. The Senate replied, as 
was anticipated, with indignation, and would 



THE SPANIARDS. 21 

enter into no negotiation. Don Pedro on his 
side did all in his power to aggravate them still 
more. The Duke of Mantua was not much dis- 
posed to pardon his rebel subjects, which he had 
promised in the treaty of Ast ; he was encourag- 
ed to persevere in his resistance, and to continue 
the executions he had commenced. Propositions 
were made to the Duke of Savoy to obtain the 
fulfilment of this treaty, which they knew he 
would not accept, and excuses were made for 
not disbanding the army under pretence of the 
war of the Friuli, in which Spain could not, with 
honour, avoid taking a part. The Venetian 
army had passed the Lizonzo, and besieged Gra- 
diska, the capital of the estates of the Archduke. 
The Spanish council, who had appeared neu- 
tral until then, seeing this prince in danger of 
being entirely despoiled, menaced a declaration 
of war. At this time the misunderstanding 
which had existed in the house of Austria, be- 
tween the Spanish and German branches, on ac- 
count of the rivalry of the son and the brother of 
Charles 5th, for the succession to the empire, 
was accommodated. The interest which the 
Spaniards took in this war was the first mark of 
reconciliation. Don Pedro ordered the colonel 
of horse, Gambalotta, to advance near Cremona 
with troops, and mounted twenty-four batteries 



22 



CONSPIRACY OF 



of cannon at Pavia, which he made known would 
soon be reinforced by a body of eight thousand 
men, commanded by Don Sancho de Luna. On 
the other side the Viceroy of Naples, who cross- 
ed the Mediterranean with the Spanish fleet, 
menaced an attack on the Duke of Savoy, by 
Villa-Franca. He closed the avenue to all suc- 
cours arriving by sea from the Republic, and 
every day threatened to enter the gulf, and block- 
ade the Venetian fleet. 

The Venetian Ambassadors at the respective 
courts at which they resided inveighed against 
the violence of this proceeding, the Marquis of 
Bedemar justified it. He believed it important 
for his design to destroy the veneration v/ith 
which Europe, for so many ages, had regarded 
this Republic as the most ancient of existing 
states, and where Liberty was most enjoyed. 
This liberty had been recently proved, and rais- 
ed more high during the controversy with the 
Pope, by several works which were yet thought 
incontrovertable, although the opposite party 
were not wanting in men of talents capable of 
answering them. 

The Ambassador again examined them, refut- 
ed in a few chapters the numerous volumes of 
the Venetian authors without honouring any one 
in particular by naming him ; and as there are 



THE SPANIARDS. 23 

no questions in subjects of this nature which a 
skilful man may not render problematical, under 
pretence of establishing the right of the Emperors 
over Venice, he proved that the independence of 
this Republic was as much a chimera as its em- 
pire oyer the sea. As it was not necessary for 
his design that he should be known as the author 
of this libel, he had it published so secretly that 
it was not discovered during his life that he had 
any concern in it. It appears strange that he 
was not suspected ; but it must be believed that 
the Venetians did not yet understand him ; his 
manners lively and passionate, did not allow them 
to suppose a man of so impetuous a character 
could be the author of a satire of so much refine- 
ment and delicacy. Equity and good faith ap- 
peared to predominate throughout, and the de- 
clamation acrainst the outrages of the Venetians 
were expressed in terms of such apparent mod- 
eration as was fully sufficient to render them, 
plausible. This work, which was entitled, 
*' Squittinio della liber fa veneta,''^ excited a great 
sensation. 

Their ignorance respecting the author natu- 
rally inclined them to suspect the court of Rome 
on account of the preceding writings. The 
learned men of the Senate believed that the force 
of it would be felt by every one as much as by 



24 CONSPIRACY OF 

themselves, and it occasioned them more terror 
than even the loss of a battle, and Fra-Paolo was 
ordered to examine it. This man who had ridi- 
culed the other writers of the opposite party de- 
clared it would be better not to reply to this, as it 
would be bringing things to light that had better 
remain buried in the shades of antiquity ; but if 
the Senate judged it proper for the dignity of the 
Republic to notice this work, he would under- 
take to give the court of Rome so much trouble 
in defending itself, that it would no longer think 
of attacking. In the first heat of resentment this 
offer was accepted, and Fra-Paolo saw with joy 
an occasion to publish his history of the council 
of thirty, which otherwise would not have ap- 
peared during his life. 

The campaign of 1616 passed without any 
considerable advantage on either side. The 
Duke of Savoy and the Venetians, who did not 
wish to hazard the loss of the glory they had ac- 
quired, empowered Gritti, the Venetian Ambas- 
sador at Madrid, to renew the negotiation. The 
Spaniards, indignant at the resistance they had 
met, made propositions it was impossible should 
be received. Gradiska remained blockaded. 
They continued fighting during the winter, and 
at the commencement of spring they were actu- 
ated by such ardour as promised better success 



THE SPANIARDS. 25 

than the preceding year. The truce in Holland 
having rendered useless the greater part of the 
troops of that state, and reduced the French and 
German adventurers to seek employment else- 
where, the Counts of Nassau and Lievestein 
brought eight thousand Dutch and Wallons to 
the service of the Republic. The Spaniards 
complained to the Pope that the Venetians were 
exposing Italy to the dangers of heresy by an in- 
tercourse with these military men; but the Ve- 
netian Ambassador convinced him it was less the 
interest of religion which influenced them than 
sorrow, at beholding two great republics unite 
their forces against them. 

But the Marquis of Bedemar would have been 
greatly embarrassed had the Pope obliged the 
Venetians to disband these heretics. As these 
mercenaries thought only of profit in serving a 
foreign prince, he hoped to gain the assistance 
of their chiefs in consideration of a certain sum, 
and the expectation of the plunder of Venice. 
To negotiate this affair, he cast his eyes upon an 
old French gentleman named Nicholas de Re- 
nault, a man of talents and knowledge who for 
reasons not known had sought refuge in Venice. 
The Marquis of Bedemar had frequently seen 
him at the house of the French Ambassador, 
where he lived. In some conversation which 



26 CONSPIRACY OF 

chance occasioned, Renault discovered that the 
capacity of this minister had not been overrated, 
and the Marquis well pleased to possess a friend 
of this character at the French Ambassador's, 
soon became extremely intimate with him. 

Although this man was exceedingly poor, he 
estimated virtue more than riches, but he loved 
glory beyond virtue, and if it could not be obtain- 
ed by innocent means, there were none too 
criminal for him to undertake. From the writ- 
ings of the ancients he had learned that perfect 
indifference for life or death which is the foun- 
dation of all extraordinary designs; and he 
always regretted that period when the merit of 
individuals decided the destiny of states, and 
when those who possessed it had always the 
power of making it known. 

The Marquis of Bedemar, who had deeply 
studied him, and who had need of a man to 
whom he could entirely confide the management 
of the enterprise, revealed to him his plans, at 
the same time saying, he had placed dependance 
on him from the first moment he had conceived 
the idea of such an undertaking. Renault felt 
more complimented by this assurance than he 
would have done with all the praises that could 
have been oifered him ; his advanced age did 
not prevent his entering into this engagement, 



THE SPANIARDS. 27 

for as in the course of nature his life must be 
short, he believed he could not better employ the 
few sad years that yet remained for him, than 
by risking them in an adventure which might 
render his name immortal. The Marquis of 
Bedemar gave him the bills of exchange and let- 
ters of credit necessary to negotiate with the 
commander of the Hollanders ; he charged him 
not yet to explain the nature of the enterprise, 
but merely to make him understand that the 
difficulties had increased to such a degree be- 
tween the Republic and the house of Austria, 
that the Spanish Ambassador, then at Venice, 
foreseeing something might occur which would 
expose his person to the fury of the people of that 
city, to guard himself from such peril, he wished 
to feel assured of the protection of a number of 
faithful and resolute friends. The pretext was 
gross, but the slightest veil is a great resource in 
affairs of this nature, and it was of little conse- 
quence to him that they should suspect some 
mystery, provided they could not penetrate it. 
By this means he hoped to seduce the chosen 
band of the Venetian army, and that the rest 
would remain so feeble it would be easy for Don 
Pedro to defeat them on the road, if they were 
ordered to Venice to oppose the conspirators. 
The navy was much more to be feared ; it 



28 CONSPIRACY OF 

was always in its power to conquer, and much 
more easy to be brought to the aid of the city. 
It was composed chiefly of the natural subjects 
of the republic, and there was no doubt at the 
first noise of a conspiracy it would proceed to 
Venice. The hope that the Spanish fleet could 
prevent it was not to be depended on ; it woidd 
not have been wise to place on the chance of a 
combat the success of an enterprise already so 
dangerous, and it was necessary there should be 
some means to prevent the Venetian fleet from 
having the power of being useful. 

The Ambassador, who had not as much expe- 
rience in naval aff*airs as the Viceroy of Naples, 
who commanded the navy of Spain, believed it 
best to consult him on the subject. This Viceroy 
who was to be the principal actor in the tragedy 
composed by the ambassador, was that Duke of 
Ossuno, so famous for his gallantries, and who 
was as enterprising as Don Pedro and the Mar- 
quis of Bedemar. This resemblance in their dis- 
positions had occasioned a great intimacy be- 
tween these three ministers. Don Pedro and 
the Duke of Ossuno were not remarkable as 
(J iplom artists, and the Duke was even sometimes 
subject to irregularities which approached folly ; 
but the defference they both felt for the Marquis 



THE SPANIARDS. 29 

of Bedemar supplied the want of that skill which 
they did not possess. 

The profits from piracy for those who practis- 
ed it under powerful protection had attracted to 
the court of the Viceroy of Naples the most 
famous corsairs in the Mediterranean. This 
Viceroy, who was fruitful in extraordinary de- 
signs, and rather prodigal than avaricious, did 
not protect them so much for the share he re- 
ceived of their plunder as that he might always 
retain near him a number of persons ready for 
any enterprise. Not contented with merely re- 
ceiving them, if he heard of one more extraordi- 
nary than others, he sought for him, and offered 
such great advantages that he infallably suc- 
ceeded in obtaining him. He had attracted in 
this manner Captain Jacques Pierre, a Norman 
of good family, and who had so much excelled 
all others in this line that many gloried in having 
been taught by him. 

The mind of this man was not at all affected 
by the barbarism of this kind of life. Having 
gained enough to live honestly, he resolved to 
quit it, although he was yet in the flower of his 
age, and he had chosen the dominions of the 
Duke of Savoy for his retreat. This prince, an 
admirer of all extraordinary talents, and who 
perfectly understood the value of the equal dis- 



30 CONSPIR.ACY OF 

tributions of nature, learning the reputation of 
this corsair for extreme bravery, had accorded 
to him his desire of establishing himself at Nice. 
AH the officers, soldiers and sailors who frequent- 
ed this coast regularly made their court to the 
Captain ; his councils were oracles for them, and 
he was the sovereign arbiter of all their disputes. 
It was impossible not to admire a man who had 
abandoned a profession which generally possess- 
ed such attractions for its followers, and in which 
he had been so successful. 

Amongst those who sought the friendship of 
the Captain was a Vincent Robert of Marseilles, 
who, having landed in Sicily, v/here the Duke of 
Ossuno was then Viceroy, was so kindly receiv- 
ed as to induce him to enter into the service of 
that prince. The Duke having learned that 
Robert was intimate with Pierre, familiarly com- 
plained to him that his friend should have chosen 
the estates of the Duke of Savoy for a residence 
in preference to his ovv'U. He accompanied this 
complaint with extraordinary testimonials of the 
esteem which he entertained for the courage and 
experience of the Captain in all maratime affairs, 
and concluded by assurances of sparing nothing 
which depended upon him to attract to his court 
a man of such singular merit. Robert under- 
took this negotiation with joy, and it was sup- 



THE SPANIARDS. 31 

ported by such advances on the part of the 
Viceroy, that Pierre felt under the obligation of 
repairing to Sicily with his wife and children. 

As the Captain had never lost sight of the sea, 
he had never been entirely cured of his passion 
for it. There had been lately built for the 
Viceroy several fine vessels, and hearing of some 
Turkish caravans very richly laden being at sea 
with a feeble escort, Pierre could not resist the 
temptation. He had no cause to repent it ; the 
prize was immense, and the Duke of Ossuno, who 
lived with him as with a brother, gave up the 
greatest part of it to him, on condition he would 
follov/ him to Naples, v/here, by order of the 
king, he was to take the command, and proceed 
to Provence, to seduce to his employ the best 
seamen on that coast. The Captain returned 
with sufficient to arm five large vessels belonging 
to the Viceroy, and over which he had absolute 
control. With this little fleet he ravaged all the 
isles and the shores of the Levant, and terminat- 
ed his first campaign by a battle in which he 
took or sunk a large squadron of Turkish gal- 
leys. 

It was at this time that the Marquis of Eede- 
mar communicated his design to the Duke of 
Ossuno, confident he would have but little trou- 
ble in engaging his co-operation. This duke who 



32 CONSPIRACY OP 

affected an empire over the sea, wished for noth- 
ing more ardently than to ruin those who could 
alone dispute his power and whom il was not so 
easy to combat as the Turks. He disclosed the 
project to Pierre in making known to him all the 
difficulties they would encounter. The Captain 
did not believe them insurmountable, and after 
many days of secret conference he privately left 
Naples in a manner which evinced extreme fear. 
The Viceroy immediately despatched persons in 
every direction, excepting the one he had taken, 
with orders to seize him dead or alive, his wife 
and children w^ere imprisoned and apparently 
treated in a most cruel manner. All his property 
was confiscated and the anger of the Duke was 
so violent that all Naples was astonished at it, 
although his character was so well known. As 
the Captain did not appear more calm, their disa- 
greement was easily believed, and it was supposed 
that Pierre had acted contrary to the interests of 
Spain, or of the Duke in his particular designs, 
and had returned to his first asylum. 

The Duke of Savoy was in open war with the 
Spaniards and he v/as known as the most gener- 
ous of princes. Although he had evinced some 
displeasure at the Captain for quitting his do- 
minions for Sicily, the imposter did not hesitate 
to throw himself at his feet. He revealed to him 



•THE SPANIARDS. 



^3 



many designs of the Viceroy horrible even to 
think of, but which bore no resemblance to the 
truth. As he did not feel that he could engage 
in them with honor, he had 'taken measures to 
leave Naples with his family and property, but 
the Viceroy discovering his intention, he had 
been obliged to fly suddenly to conceal himself 
from his fury, and to abandon what was dearest 
to him in the world to the discretion of the most 
cruel of men. 

The Duke of Savoy, touched with pity at this 
sad recital, received him with open arms. He 
told the corsair that his interests being intimately 
connected with those of the Republic, he would 
acknowledge the service he had rendered their 
common cause, if the Venetians did not show 
themselves grateful. He added that it was im- 
portant the Senate should be instructed by his 
own mouth of the designs of the Duke of Ossuno. 
After having exhorted him to support his dis- 
grace like a man of courage, furnishing him 
with every thing necessary, and making him a 
magnificent present, he directed him to take the 
road to Venice, with letters of credit and recom- 
mendation. 

The Venetians were not less compassionate 
than the Duke of Savoy. The flight, the tears, 
the poverty, the despair, the reputation of the 



34 CONSPIRACY OF 

Captain, the hope that he would attract to their 
service as many brave persons as he had to the 
Duke of Ossuno, and above all, the projects 
which he related of this Duke, and which he had 
invented with plausibility, spoke so powerfully in 
his favor, that they immediately gave him com- 
mand of a vessel. Contarini, the Ambassador to 
Rome, remonstrated in his letters that this man, 
coming from the Viceroy, should be suspected ; 
but fear had produced such credulity in the 
minds of the Venetians, that they overlooked 
this prudent advice. A short time after the fleet 
w^as at sea, the Captain, knowing the importance 
of his signalizing himself, took several consider- 
able prizes from the Uscoques, whom he had 
been ordered to pursue, and on his return from 
the cruise eleven vessels w^ere added to the one 
already under his command. 

In rendering an account to the Duke of Ossu- 
no of his success, he ended his despatch in these 
words : '^ If these ideots are always as credulous 
as I now find them, I dare assure your excellency 
that my time will not be lost in this country." 
He wrote at the same time to his comrades in 
Naples to attract them to the service of the Re- 
public. It was not difficult to seduce them, for 
after his flight the Viceroy, feigning suspicion, 



THE SPANIARDS. 35 

exerted as much rigour towards them as he had 
before shown indulgence. 

He made great complaints of the protection 
accorded the Captain by the Republic, and to 
be revenged he received all those Uscoques whom 
the Venetian arms had driven from their asylum. 
They again commenced their cruises under his 
protection, captured a large vessel going from 
Corfu to Venice, and publicly sold the plunder 
under his standard. He violated the rights of 
ports, and retaliated severely for slight causes . 
he disregarded the orders he had received from 
Spain to return what had been seized, and pub- 
lished a manifesto giving reasons for his disobe- 
dience. He sent a large fleet to cruise in the 
Adriatic, and the prizes which were taken from 
the Venetians were brought in triumph to Naples. 
At last he ruined their commerce at the expense 
of the Neapolitans themselves who were interest- 
ed in it; and if the superintendants of the reve- 
nue dared to complain, he silenced them with 
threats of hanging. 

As war had not been declared between Spain 
and the Republic, the Venetians were thrown 
into astonishment at such singular conduct. 
Almost every one imputed it to the extravagance 
of the Duke alone, but some who were wiser 
knew that characters like his could be of great 



36 CONSPIRACY OF 

use when skilfully employed, and believed that 
the Spaniards took advantage of his caprices ta 
perform actions they would neither avow or sus- 
tain. In his familiar discourse he talked of 
nothing but surprising the ports of Istria belong- 
ing to the Republic, of sacking the islands, and 
of even making a descent on Venice. He studied 
his plans with his mistresses, had exact maps 
drawn of the environs, built barks, brigantines, 
and other small vessels proper for canals, tried 
how much weight each depth of water could 
sustain, and every day invented new machine* 
to diminish this weight, and facilitate the move- 
ment. The Venetian resident minister at Na- 
ples rendered an account of his proceedings to 
the Senate to the great despair of the Marquis 
of Bedemar, who began to repent of having unit- 
ed his interest to that of a man so wild and 
scheming ; but success proved his fears had de- 
ceived him. 

The Viceroy carried things with so high a 
hand that the Venetians did nothing but laugh. 
Even the most penetrating could not believe 
there was any deep purpose concealed under 
such open demonstrations of hostility. The Duke 
still continued acting according to his own wishes 
without giving the least offence, and his indis- 
cretion, which in another would have ruined the 



THE SPANIARDS. 37 

enterprise, forwarded it more than all the cir- 
cumspection of the Marquis of Bedemar. Never- 
theless, the Marquis judged it best to hasten the 
execution of their project, either that the Vene- 
tians might not have leisure to reflect, or on 
account of the danger to which his person was 
daily exposed. The Venetian fleet having offered 
battle to the Spaniards, who refused it, they 
plundered the coast of Apulia, and the people of 
Venice demonstrated such insolent. joy, that the 
Ambassador and his household w^ould infallably 
have been massacred if a guard had not been 
sent to prot^ecl them. 

On the same day the Marquis of Bedemar re- 
ceived news, from the camp before Gradiska, 
which consoled him for this accident. Renault 
informed him that he had found minds so happily 
disposed that the negotiation had been concluded 
in a short time. The Ambassador ordered him 
to visit Milan before returning, and Don Pedro 
received him with all those caresses with which 
the great blind the minds of those who sacrifice 
themselves to their service. They agreed that it 
was necessary to obtain possession of a city be- 
longing to the Venetians on terra-firma, which 
could be seized at the same time as Venice ; 
that this city would serve as a check to the others 
and as a deposit of arms for the Spanish army 



38 CONSPIRACY OF 

which should attack them, and would also prove 
a barrier to Venice, rendering any assistance to 
those which were besieged. 

Renault visited the principal places, and re- 
mained some time at Crema to effect an arrange- 
ment with a French lieutenant, named John 
Berard, an Italian captain, and a Provencal 
lieutenant, whom Don Pedro had already engag- 
ed. These three men offered to conceal five 
hundred Spaniards in the city without giving the 
least suspicion to the commander, and to seize 
it in eight days afterwards. Renault examined 
the place, and judged success nearly infallible 
with that number of men. It was only necessary 
to cut the throats of a miserable garrison drawn 
from the militia of the country, as all the regular 
troops of the Republic were either in the fortified 
places of the Friuli, or with the armies. 

The Duke of Ossuno and the Marquis of 
Bedemar also deemed it necessary to gain some 
of the Venetian possessions on the gulf to enable 
them to assist the Uscoques, and the Archduke, 
and to serve as a retreat to the Spanish fleet 
should any accident oblige it to seek an asylum 
in this sea. They chose for this end Mar an, a 
strong place on an island contiguous to Istria, 
and whose harbour was sufficient for a large 
fleet. An Italian named Mazza, who had beea 



THE SPANIARDS. tRI 

a Serjeant major for forty years, exercised nearly 
as much authority as the Governor. In consid- 
eration of a large sum, this man promised an 
emissary of the Duke of Ossuno, to kill the Gov- 
ernor and render himself master of the place 
which he would hold in the name of the Span- 
iards. It was almost as easy for him to execute 
this promise as to make it ; the Governor, Lo- 
renzo Tiepolo, who was the overseer, was on 
terms of great familiarity with him ; and as the 
place of overseer occupied him on the frontier 
in time of war, he depended entirely upon the 
sergeant major in all that concerned the interior, 
as upon the most ancient and capable officer of 
the garrison. 

Affairs were in this state when the Ambassa- 
dor thought it best to place the finishing stroke 
to his work. By waiting, he might add to the 
measures he had taken, but he knew that length 
of time was mortal to designs of this nature. It 
was impossible that all the different means which 
could contribute to success would at the same 
time be in readiness for operation. The first 
€hanged their faces whilst the others were pre- 
paring, and when one is fortunate enough to 
combine a sufficient number, it is a capital fault 
to allow the occasion to pass which is so pre- 
cious. 



40 CONSPIRACY OF 

It was of extreme importance for the honor 
of the Spanish crown that its Ambassador could 
not be convicted of having taken a part in the 
enterprise in case of its failure. With this view 
he resolved to remain concealed to all the con- 
spirators excepting Renault and Pierre ; even 
these two were unacquainted. They never visit-" 
ed the Ambassador excepting when sent for, and 
he was careful to appoint different times that 
they might not meet. If a discovery should take 
place, it would be more advantageous for him 
that they should have had no connexion. In 
this fear, he wished still to continue to direct 
them without their becoming known to each 
other, but after mature deliberation he judged it 
impossible, and despairing of success if he did 
not establish a perfect union between them, he 
resolved to take this step, however unpleasant it 
might be to him. 

Although both possessed courage and pru-* 
dence, Renault principally piqued himself on 
making such a disposition of things that the ex-» 
ecution would be easy and the success certain. 
Pierre, on the contrary, who was much younger,, 
prided himself upon being a man of great promp-^ 
titude, and extraordinary resolution. The Mar- 
quis made known to him the various negotiations 
of Renault, his wisdom, which provided expedi- 



THE SPANIARDS. 41 

ents for all exigencies, his eloquence and address 
in gaining new partisans, and his talent for writ- 
ing so useful on an occasion when continual 
news of the fleet, the provinces, and the army, 
was requisite. He added, that he thought a 
man of this description would be extremely use- 
ful to the Captain ; that he was an old man of 
great experience, who wanted neither heart nor 
firmness, but whose age and literary, rather than 
warlike profession, rendjered him incapable of 
partaking with Pierre the glory of the execution. 
To Renault he merely said that Pierre was a 
man attached to the Duke of Ossuno, and that 
the Duke, before engaging in the enterprise, had 
concealed nothing from this confidant. He 
prayed him to condescend to the manners of 
the corsair, as it was necessary to their design 
to pay him all the defierence which could gain 
the mind of a man proud and presumptuous to 
the last degree. 

The Marquis of Bedemar having labored in 
this manner to dispose these two men to good 
fellowship, was extremely astonished, the first 
time they met at his house, to see them embrace 
with much tenderness, as soon as they cast their 
eyes upon each other. There is no mind so 
strong that does not sometimes reason falsely 
upon that which surprises it. The first thought 



42 CONSPIRACY OF 

of the Ambassador was that he was betrayed. 
As he had understood they were not acquainted 
he could not comprehend why their connexion 
had been concealed from him. This mystery 
was soon elucidated. They had met at the 
house of a celebrated Greek, a woman of extra- 
ordinary merit for a courtisan, of which there 
needed no other proof than this adventure, in 
which she had religiously concealed, as she had 
been requested, the secret of their names. This 
fidelity is more to be admired as she was not 
ignorant of the great esteem in which they held 
each other. 

The Ambassador, fully recovered from his 
surprise, was delighted to find an union already 
effected, for which he had so much wished. 
They acknowledged, in the course of conversa- 
tion, that they had each a design of engaging the 
other in the enterprise. As they were full of 
their project, in their conversation at the Greek's 
they had sometimes fallen upon subjects of this 
nature, in speaking of the aff*airs of the times, 
and the state of the war, without any intention of 
revealing their secret ; they however candidly 
confessed, in presence of the Ambassador, that 
in the heat of argument they had sometimes pro- 
ceeded a little too far, and had discovered more 
of their sentiments than was wise. The Mar- 



THE SPANIARDS. 43 

quis advised them to profit by this reflection, to 
be more circumspect in future, and to let this 
experience teach them that to keep really secret 
a great affair, it was not sufficient that nothing 
was said which could have any connexion with 
it, they should not even remember that they 
knew it. 

Renault related to them that since the rumours 
of peace, whieh had been renewed towards the 
end of the month of June, the Venetian oflacers 
had very badly treated the foreign troops, who, 
being no longer restrained by the authority of 
the Count of Nassau, whose death took place 
about that time, had not performed their duty 
before Gradiska; that the General of the Re- 
public fearing they would do worse, had separat- 
ed them by sending them to different posts, as 
distant from each other as it was in his power 
to choose. This precaution having rendered 
public the distrust which was felt for their fideli- 
ty, they had mutinied, and having refused, with 
insolence, to execute some orders of the Senate, 
the General believed it his duty to put to death 
some of the most seditious ; that he had confined 
the chiefs in Padua, and distributed the rest in 
various places in Lombardy, until they could be 
paid, and the completion of the treaties would 
permit hirn to disband them. 



44 CONSPIRACY OF 

Renault added, that the lieutenant of the 
Count of Nassau, who was one of the principal 
with whom he had negotiated, had been banish- 
ed to Bresse, but he had so employed himself 
whilst there that he was ready to place that city 
in the hands of Don Pedro, and that it was re- 
quisite to determine immediately upon this par- 
ticular attempt, as the lieutenant was very press- 
ing for a decisiv e answer. 

The Ambassador replied, that he could do 
nothing until he was master of Venice, and even 
then but one place in Lombardy would be neces- 
sary to him; that they were certain of Crema, 
and this new enterprise would only divide their 
forces. He wished, however, that those who 
had been gained should continue well disposed, 
and it would be better to make some plausible 
excuse for defering the execution, and rather 
than expose themselves to any rumour of their 
designs, it would be better to abandon the 
thought altogether. 

Renault said, that besides this lieutenant, he 
had negotiated with three French gentlemen, 
whose names were Durand, sergeant-major to 
the regiment of Lievestein, De Brainville, and 
De Bribe, also a Savoyard called De Ternon, 
who had been at the scalade of Geneva, a Hol- 
lander named Theodore, Robert Revellido, an 



♦the spaniauds. 45 

Italian engineer, two other Italians who had been 
employed in the Arsenal, named Louis de Villa 
Mezzanji, captain of light horse, and William 
Retrosi, lieutenant of captain Honorat in Parma. 
He had considered it necessary to confide his 
plan entirely to these nine persons, but from the 
manner in which he had chosen them, he would 
answer with his head for their fidelity. During 
his residence in the camp they had already gain- 
ed more than two hundred officers; but these 
officers had only understood, as the Ambassador 
had ordered, that they were to go to Venice to 
deliver his excellency from the hands of the pop- 
ulace of that city, whenever their assistance was 
needed. Since his return he had written to 
know exactly the number of men upon whom he 
could depend, and that they must be particular 
to name none who were doubtful, and they had 
sent him word that he might count upon two 
thousand men of Lievestein's troops at the least, 
and upon two thousand three hundred of those 
of Nassau ; that all the officers were ready to 
place themselves in his hands as hostages of 
fidelity, and from the commencement of this ne- 
gotiation they had flattered their soldiers with 
the hope of some expedition to which they would 
conduct them when they were dismissed by the 
Republic, and that they should be liberally re- 



46 CONSPIRACY OF 

compensed for the misery which they had suf- 
fered. There was no fear that when the singu- 
larity of the enterprise was made known to them 
they would recede, as they were so much incens- 
ed against the Senate, on account of the igno- 
minious treatment they had received, that for 
this reason alone he would answer for their un- 
dertaking any adventure that could procure them 
revenge; however, for greater security, they 
would not divulge the secret until things should 
be so well disposed and so much advanced that 
there could be no doubt of success, and as it had 
been resolved to give Venice up to plunder, there 
was no one who would hesitate to enrich himself 
by so sure and quick a way, and pass in opulence 
the rest of his days. 

From the first thought which the Marquis of 
Bedemar had conceived of the undertaking, he 
had resolved not to engage in it without possess- 
ing many more resources than was necessary for 
its success, and they should be so independent 
and disengaged from each other that even if one 
should fail it should not affect the power of the 
others. With this view he had taken measures 
with the Duke of Ossuno to be supplied with 
troops, although he depended on the promises of 
Don Pedro, and upon the treaty of Renault with 
the Hollanders. He had negotiated with each 



THE SPANIARDS. 47 

of these three as if he had no depend ance on the 
others, and as though he needed them for three 
different enterprises. 

It was now time to know precisely when the 
Duke of Ossuno could send to Venice the men 
expected from him. But as he did not possess 
a mind sufficiently steady for one to repose 
blindly upon his word in so important and diffi- 
cult an affair, it was thought best to send some 
one capable of judging on the spot if he was in a 
situation to fulfil his w^ord. Pierre could not 
absent himself from Venice without its being 
remarked. Renault was indispensably necessa- 
ry there, and they cast their eyes for this journey 
upon De Bribe, one of the French gentlemen 
with whom Renault had negotiated in Friuli. 
But this gentleman whilst preparing to depart 
having received a commission from the Republic 
to raise soldiers, it was thought best for him to 
remain, and a Franc Comptois named Laurent 
Nolot, a friend of the Captain's, proceeded in 
his place the first day of the year 1618. 

The Marquis of Bedemar now believ ed it time 
to consult the council of Spain. To prevent 
their demanding any explanation from him he 
sent a full account of the extent of his project, 
with the most favourable view of its situation. 
As he knew the slowness of the deliberations of 



48 CONSPIRACY OF 

the Spanish court, he insisted, in a private de- 
spatch to the Duke of Lerma, on a prompt and 
decisive reply, that the danger he was in, author- 
ised him to express himself in so absolute a man^ 
ner, and if his courier was detained longer than 
eight days, he should interpret the detention into 
an order to abandon his design. 

The answer arrived within the time he de- 
manded, but it was not altogether so decided as 
he wished. He was told that if it w^ould be dis- 
advantageous to defer it, to proceed to all ex- 
tremes; but if it could be delayed, they ardently 
wished to receive before hand a full and faith- 
ful description of the state of the Republic. 

The Ambassador, who had ample knowledge 
on this subject was not long in preparing so art- 
ful a relation that the Spaniards have called h 
the master-piece of their politics. The intention 
for which it was executed could not be discover- 
ed, but by those in the secret, but to them 
almost every word bore some reference to the 
great project. It commenced by an elegant la- 
mentation on the difficulty of the work on ac- 
count of the impenetrable secrecy of the govern- 
ment which it would describe. He praised this 
government, but the eulogium which he made 
was more upon the first ages of the Republic 
than of its present state. From these praises he 



THE SPANIARDS. 49 

made observations equally sad and eloquent on 
the mutability of all things human, and that the 
most excellent were most subject to corruption ; 
thus the wisest laws of this state, by the abuses 
to which they had been subjected were the 
causes of the present evils ; that those laws 
which excluded the people entirely from a know- 
ledge of affairs occasioned the tyranny of the 
nobles, and those which submitted the ecclesias- 
tical power to the censure of the sovereign mag- 
istrate, served for the foundation of the license 
evinced by the people of Venice towards the 
court of Rome during its quarrel with the Re- 
public. He attributed to this license the impie- 
ties which had been committed with impunity by 
the Hollanders in Friuli. He noticed particular- 
ly the interment of a nobleman of their country, 
named Renaud de Brederode, in the church of 
the Servites of Venice, although a calvanist, and 
seriously accused Fra-Paolo in this affair, with- 
out naming him, because it was he who inspired 
the Senate with this audacity. He wondered 
how the people, no longer awed into obedience 
to the prince by a religion which was violated in 
every way before their eyes, could endure the 
frightful impositions practised upon them. He 
represented these impositions in detail, and ex- 
aggerated nothing in making them appear in- 
4 



50 CONSPIRACY OF 

supportable. He demonstrated that the honor 
and blood of the people were, not less than their 
property, at the discretion of the nobles. That 
the natural disposition of the nation inclining it 
to avarice, revenge and love, it was not astonish- 
ing that those who were obliged to obey in a 
government of this kind, should be oppressed by 
those who commanded. At last he examined 
the state of the Senate, the provinces and the 
army. He remarked the division of the Senate, 
and did not hesitate to say that he knew of many 
discontented nobles. He described the desolation 
of some of the provinces occasioned by the war 
with the Uscoques, and the exhausted state in 
which the others had been placed by the assist- 
ance they had rendered them ; that there were 
not three officers who had been paid in any gar- 
rison in Lombardy, and that the Republic only 
preserved its authority there by the want of some 
one who would undertake to usurp it. As to 
the army, he gave a faithful recital of the insur- 
rection, and the manner in which the mutineers 
had been dispersed, whose numbers were so large 
they might regard those who were left as a mis- 
erable collection of militia, who had neither 
courage, experience or discipline ; that the fleet 
had become for sometime an asylum for the most 
infamous corsairs of the Mediterranean, people 



THE SPANIARDS. 51 

unworthy of the name of soldiers, and of whose 
services the Republic could not be secure should 
they become strong enough to turn their arms 
against her. 

After having described these things with great 
beauty of language, and wonderful force of ex- 
pression, he considered w^hat opinion ought to be 
formed of the future state of the Republic, its 
fortune and duration ; that it was easily seen by 
the facts w^hich he had established, that it vras in 
its decrepitude, and its diseases were of such a 
nature that there could be no crisis, neither 
could the present constitution be corrected but 
by entirely changing its form. 

After this account the council of Spain allow- 
ed the Marquis of Bedemar the liberty of acting 
without orders. All operations were, however, 
arrested by Nolot not returning, and the Ambas- 
sador could not console himself for the fault he 
had committed in exposing an affair of this kind 
to the caprice of the Duke of Ossuno, whose dis- 
position he had long knowii. This delay was 
extremely dangerous in the present state of 
things. After the Spaniards had taken Verceil, 
Gradiska found itself pressed by the Venetians, 
and the council of Spain could find no other 
means of saving it than by renewing propo- 
sitions of peace. They prepared at Madrid a 



52 CONSPIRACY QF 

writing which contained the principle articlei^, 
but the continued irregularities of the Duke of 
Ossuno obliged the Venetians to revoke the pow- 
er of their Ambassador, and carried the negotia- 
tion to France, where the death of the Marshal 
d' Ancre made them hope for more favor. 

Peace was concluded at Paris the sixth of 
September, and the Governor of Milan held a 
conference some time after at Pavia, with the 
Count de Bethune to regulate the execution of 
it respecting the Duke of Savoy. At the same 
time this governor continued to vex the Vene- 
tians, and even took some small places they pos- 
sessed in Lombardy. They complained loudly 
of it, and prepared for war, until the Marquis of 
Bedemar, in full Senate, offered the customary 
compliments for peace, and promised the execu- 
tion of the treaty. He was not so much actuated 
by any orders he had received from Spain, as 
from a wish to efface the bad impressions which 
the Senate had conceived of him from past cir- 
cumstances. With this view he acquitted him- 
self of this duty with every imaginable demon- 
stration of joy and friendship, and the Venetians, 
who ardently wished for that which he promised, 
allowed themselves to be blinded by his words, 
and agreed with him for a suspension of arms. 

This was a decisive stroke for the Spaniards and 



THE SPANIARDS. 53 

the master-piece of their Ambassador. Gradiska 
was so strongly pressed it could not possibly hold 
out for fifteen days, and hostilities were to cease 
but at the end of two months, as this time had 
been thought necessary on each side to dispose 
affairs for the ratification of the treaty. Some- 
thing must be done to prevent it from falling 
during that time, and this suspension placed it 
out of all danger. The Spaniards no longer 
having any reasons to urge the performance of 
the treaty, remained at liberty to lengthen the 
time as it should best suit their designs. 

The Duke of Ossuno, obliged by orders from 
Madrid and the remonstrances of the Pope, offer- 
ed some time after to return the vessels he had 
taken, but as for the merchandise, he could not 
tell what had become of it. They, however, sold 
it in Naples even before the eyes of the Venetian 
Resident, and the Duke again sent a powerful 
fleet to cruise in the Adriatic. The Senate 
wished to remonstrate with the Marquis of Bede- 
mar, but his complaints were loudest. He de- 
clared he could not undertake to answer for the 
actions of the Duke of Ossuno, and that the 
king, their master, understood them no better, 
and that amongst all the favors and the kind 
treatment he had received at Venice during his 
embassy the only displeasure which he had felt. 



54 



CONSPIRACY OF 



was ill knowing that they imputed to his councils 
the conduct of the Viceroy; that he had no part 
in it, and as well as they knew the Duke of 
Ossuno they must be convinced he had no other 
guide than his own caprice; as for himself they 
might judge of his disposition by the peaceable 
proceedings of the Governor of Milan, of which 
he gloried in being the author. 

It was true that Don Pedro observed exactly 
the suspension, but he always remained armed, 
and that it might not be thought strange, he again 
quarreled with the Duke of Savoy, under pretext 
that the troops sent away by this prince had been 
detained in the *^ pays de Vaud,'' waiting for the 
entire performance of the treaty. Don Pedro 
refused to the Count de Bethune to disarm, as 
he had promised him at Pavia, and obliged the 
Duke of Mantua, also to refuse that which de- 
pended on him. The Count de Bethune wrote a 
public protest against them in dwelling upon 
their refusal. They replied to this protestation 
in the most plausible manner the Marquis of 
Bedemar could invent. 

It could be easily judged by these events that 
it was important to hasten the execution of the 
plot, since it was so difficult to maintain affairs 
in a right position, for any length of time, to in- 
sure success. Still Nolot did not return from 



THE SPANIARDS. 55 

the Duke of Ossuno, and the Ambassador, in de- 
spair, commanded him to discover the reason at 
whatever price, and at last it was made known 
to him. 

Some time after Pierre was received into the 
service of the Republic, the Viceroy, who wished 
to be instructed by different means of the state 
of Venice, sent after him an Italian named 
Alexander Spinosa, as a spy into the affairs there. 
This man, who was not known, soon obtained 
employment like all adventurers who asked for 
it. He believed that the Duke was planning 
some important enterprise, but he did not suspect 
that the corsair was the conductor of the plot ; 
he doubted, however, whether he was really upon 
as bad terms with the Duke as was believed by 
the world. When Spinosa came to Venice he 
offered the Viceroy to assasinate the Captain, who 
refused this proposal under pretence of the dan- 
ger he must run in executing it. Spinosa, who 
was not wanting in intelligence, thought there 
must be some stronger reason for this refusal, as 
the mere sacrifice of a man would never have 
made him hesitate in his revenge. The Duke, 
however, charged him to observe the actions of 
the corsair, either to prevent Spinosa from sus- 
pecting the truth, or because he could never 
place entire confidence in any one ; and he also 



56 CONSPIRACY OF 

wished to see if what Spinosa wrote of the Cap- 
tain accorded with what Pierre wrote of him- 
self 

To acquit himself better of his commission, 
Spinosa kept company with some Frenchmen 
who frequented the house of Pierre at Venice. 
These persons w^ho were amongst the conspira- 
tors, rendered an exact account to the Captain 
of the enquiries made by Spinosa concerning his 
conduct, and they also discovered that this spy 
endeavoured to intrigue on his side to entice peo- 
ple into the service of the Duke of Ossuno. 

Pierre was very indignant that the Viceroy 
should not place entire trust in him, but it did 
not surprise him ; he only considered that if 
Spinosa continued to cabal without their acting 
together, that it would enfeeble their party by 
dividing it, and it did not appear proper that he 
should open his mind to a man who had been 
ordered to act as a spy upon him. 

The Marquis of Bedemar and Renault w^ere 
of the same opinion, and that there was no time 
to lose in remedying this inconvenience. After 
having maturely investigated the means of doing 
it they found there was no security for them but 
in getting Spinosa out of the way. He was a 
man who would sell his life dearly if they un- 
dertook to assassinate him. The employment 



THE SPANIARDS. 57 

which he followed obliged him to be always upon 
his guard, and the Captain was at last obliged to 
accuse him, before the council of ten, as a spy 
of the Duke of Ossuna, after having uselessly 
tried every other means to accomplish his de- 
struction. The French with whom he was con- 
nected gave in their evidence so judiciously and 
circumstantially that he was taken and secretly 
strangled the same day. All that he could ad- 
vance against the corsair made no impression on 
the minds of his judges because it was against 
his accuser, and he had no proofs to offer of the 
truth of his assertions. 

This affair augmented the confidence of the 
Venetians in the Captain ; but it extremely af- 
flicted the Marquis of Bedemar, as it served as 
a caution to the Venetians to watch the conduct 
of the foreigners in their service. 

The Duke of Ossuno, who had just learned 
the death of Spinosa when Nolot arrived at Na- 
ples, did not hesitate to guess the author. The 
displeasure which he felt made him think it 
wrong of the Marquis of Bedemar that he had 
not consulted with him about it, and the various 
suspicions to which this event gave birth, in his 
mind made him hesitate on what he should re- 
solve. 

However, the troops of Lievestein having mu- 



58 CONSPIRACY OF 

tinied anew, they were brought to the Lazaretto, 
two miles from Venice, by order of the Senate, 
at the beginning of the month of February. The 
Marquis of Bedemar fearing they would enter 
into some agreement with the Republic for their 
payment, and that then they would be obliged 
to depart, induced them, through their com- 
manders, to be discontented with the sum which 
had been first offered them. To profit by the 
neighborhood of these troops so favourable to the 
designs of the conspirators, they charged Nolot, 
by an express, to represent to the Viceroy that 
during all this month they would have nearly 
five thousand men devoted to them. Nolot did 
not neglect his duty, but the Viceroy, who had 
not yet digested his anger, amused him so long 
that after waiting six weeks, the commanders, 
fearing that their soldiers, who suffered extreme- 
ly, would enter into some agreement without 
them, commenced a treaty with the consent of 
the conspirators, who did not think they possess- 
ed the power of preventing them. 

Ten days afterward Nolot arrived from Na- , 
pies with the resolves of the Duke of Ossuno 
which were all that could be wished, but address^ 
ed to Robert Brulard, one of the comrades of 
the Captain. The Ambassador and Pierre, who 
thought it best to proceed in the affair as fast aa 



THE SPANIARDS. 59 

possible, did not deign to notice the affront in- 
tended them by the Viceroy. They learned that 
he was ready to send them, when needed, boats 
and brigantines, and other small vessels proper 
for the ports and the canals of Venice, and in a 
sufficient number to contain six thousand men if 
necessary. Nolot had seen the troops and the 
vessels ready to sail, and the Captain sounded 
the canals through which they must pass to land 
at the place of St. Mark. As he had many sea- 
men at his disposal, on account of the command 
he held, who could pass through these canals as 
often as they wished, it was easy for him to take 
the dimensions with exactness. 

Nothing remained but to prevent the departure 
of the troops of Lievestein. Money was not 
spared, and the rigour of the season served as a 
pretence for their delay. The greatest part yet 
remained at the Lazaretto, and those who had 
already embarked when Nolot arrived stopped 
in places not far distant. 

To relieve Renault and Pierre from the cares 
with which they were overwhelmed and for 
which they were not sufficient, it was thought 
necessary to employ eighteen men more, at the 
least, who should be persons of intelligence and 
courage, upon whom they could entirely depend. 
They had composed this number of the nine 



60 CONSPIRACY OF 

with whom Renault had negotiated in Friuli, 
and the principal of those whom Pierre had 
drawn from Naples. These were five Captains 
of vessels, like himself, Vincent Robert of Mar- 
seilles, Laurent Nolot and Robert Brulard who 
have been already mentioned. These two last 
were Francs-Comptois as well as another Brulard 
named Laurent, and a Provencal called Antoine 
Jaffier. There were also two brothers from Lor- 
raine, Charles and John Boleau, an Italian, John 
Rizzardo, three excellent petardeers, and a 
Frenchman named L'Anglade, who, it was said, 
excelled every one as a skilful artificer of fire- 
works. The talent of this last was so well known 
that he had obtained leave to work in the Arse- 
nal. By this means the petardeers, his corapan* 
ions, had a free entrance there ; also Villa-Mer- 
zana and Retrossi, who were two of those 
gained by Renault, and who had once been 
employed there. 

These six persons drew a plan so exact of 
the interior that those who had never been there 
could act with as much certainty as those who 
had drawn it. They were much assisted in this 
work by two officers of the Arsenal whom Pierre 
had bribed. They had appeared to him discon- 
tented with their employment and endowed with 
qualities proper for his design, capable of entering 



THE SPANIARDS. 61 

into it, should they find it for their interest, and 
faithfully to fulfil what they would promise. His 
success answered to the opinion which he had 
formed of them. He seasoned the praises of 
which he was prodigal, on all occasions, with a 
large number of Spanish pistoles, with the un- 
derstanding that they should blindly follow his 
directions. 

L'Anglade and these two officers lodged in 
the Arsenal. Renault had taken with him to 
the house of the French Ambassador, three of 
his friends. Bribe, Brainville, and Laurent Bru- 
lard. The three petardeers lived with the Mar- 
quis of Bedemar, who furnished them with pow- 
der and other materials, also with the instruments 
necessary for their work, but without having any 
communication with them. They had already 
made more petards and fire works than were re- 
quisite, and the palace of the Ambassador was 
so full of them that it was impossible to accom- 
modate more persons. Pierre remained in the 
house he generally occupied, but alone, that he 
might not be suspected in case of his being 
watched ; the others he had lodged at the house 
of the courtisan where he had first met Renault. 
Esteem and friendship had taken place of the 
love they had felt for this woman, and their 



63 CONSPIRACY OF 

knowledge of her adventures convinced them 
they could not have chosen more judiciously. 

She was from one of the Grecian islands of 
the Archipelago, and as noble as one could be, 
under the dominion of Venice, without being 
Venetian. The commander of the island had 
seduced her under false promises, and had after- 
ward assassinated her father because he wished 
to oblige this Venetian to fulfil his word. The 
daughter had come to Venice to demand justice 
for this murder, but without effect, and this pur- 
suit having consumed the little property she pos- 
sessed, her beauty relieved the misery which it 
had first caused. There is no resentment more 
violent than that of a person of good birth re- 
duced to an occupation unworthy of them. She 
heard with delight of the project of her two 
friends, and was willing to risk every thing to 
promote it. She hired one of the largest houses 
in Venice, and under pretence of making some 
alterations she had but part of her furniture 
taken to it, that there might be some apparent 
reason for her still retaining the one she had be- 
fore occupied, and which was not far distant. 

It was in these two houses that eleven of the 
principal conspirators lived for nearly six months. 
As her abode was the resort of both genteel for- 
eigners and Venetians, and as so many visiters 



THE SPANIARDS. 63 

might occasion a discovery of her lodgers, she 
feigned illness that she might not be troubled with 
them. Those who know w^ith what politeness 
women of this profession are treated in Italy, can 
easily comprehend that her habitation by this 
means, became an impenetrable solitude to those 
whom she did not wish to receive. The conspi- 
rators never went out but at night, and that she 
might be at entire liberty, the meetings were held 
during the day. 

In these meetings Renault and Pierre proposed 
those things which had already been agreed upon 
between them and the Marquis of Bedemar, that 
they might have the opinions of the company and 
resolve upon means to execute them. When it 
was necessary for them to go to the palace of the 
Marquis, it was with all the circumspection re- 
quisite in a country and at a time when the resi- 
dences of the ambassadors were watched as if 
they had been those of enemies, and particularly 
that of the Spanish ambassador. They had 
agreed for some time that they ought to have a 
thousand soldiers in Venice before the execution 
of their plan, and as it was dangerous for them 
to enter armed, the Marquis of Bedemar would 
provide arms for more than five hundred. It was 
easy for him to procure them secretly as the 
gondolas of the ambassadors were never searched 



€4 CONSPIRACY OF 

from whatever place they came, so that now there 
was but wanting an occasion for these thousand 
men to enter Venice without being remarked. 

The doge Donato died, and they appointed 
in his place Antonio Priuli, who was in Friuli 
overseeing the performance of the treaties. The 
commander of the fleet was ordered to go for him. 
The grand chancellor and the secretaries of state 
also met him bearing the ducal bonnet. Twelve 
of the principal Senators followed soon after as 
ambassadors of the Republic, each one of them 
in an armed brigantine magnificently decorated 
and with a great retinue. Even the Senate in a 
body went a considerable distance in the Bucen- 
taur to meet him and conduct him to the city, 
attended by this numerous train. 

As it seldom happened that those who were 
elected doges were out of Venice, this pomp at- 
tracted a great number of curious people. The 
Marquis of Bedemar, who had foreseen it as soon 
as he knew of the election of Priuli, despatched 
Nolot a second time to Naples with an order to 
see to the departure, with the utmost expedition, 
of the brigantines of the Duke of Ossuno. That 
there might be no pretence for delay, Pierre was 
directed to send to the Duke as exact a plan as 
could be executed of their project, and to give 
him an account of all that had passed at Venice 



THE SPANIARDS. 65 

during the first journey of Nolot. The corsair 
increased his value by this precaution ; he wish* 
ed to manage the mind of the Viceroy on all 
subjects, and to convince him he had no reason 
to complain of him he finished his despatch by 
these words: *'I accuse the negligence of Nolot 
for his long residence at Naples, for I do not 
doubt had he represented things as they were, 
your excellency would have hastened him. He 
must have demanded money, or something of 
the kind, but he had express orders to the con- 
trary, and I again offer to hold Venice in my 
power for six months, should there be need of it, 
in waiting for the large fleet of your excellency, 
provided that you will send me the brigantines 
as soon as Nolot arrives, with the 6000 men you 
have offered." This letter was dated the 7th of 
April, the day of Nolot's departure. 

Renault ordered all the officers of the bribed 
troops to proceed to Venice, that they might be- 
come acquainted with the city, and obtain a 
thorough knowledge of the different stations, that 
there might be no mistake on the night of the 
execution of the plot. Before coming they chose 
a thousand men from amongst the Dutch troops, 
who were to hold themselves in readiness to 
march at any moment, and that the absence of 

these thousand men should be less remarked 
5 



66 CONSPIRACY OF 

they took them equally from all the places on the 
mainland where they had been dispersed. To 
accommodate so many people these officers hired 
as many lodgings as could be obtained without 
exciting suspicion, giving as a reason to the land- 
lords, that they were for strangers coming to 
witness the fete. The officers themselves lodged 
with courtisans, where, in paying well, they 
were in greater security than they would have 
been in any other place. 

Nothing now remained but to regulate the 
order of the performance, and the Marquis of 
Bedemar, Renault and the Captain together, 
concerted the following. 

" As soon as it should be night, those of the 
one thousand soldiers who had come without 
arms should equip themselves at the Ambassa- 
dor's. Five hundred of them should go to the 
place of St. Mark with Pierre, and the greatest 
part of the other five hundred should join Re- 
nault near the Arsenal ; the rest should seize all 
the boats, gondolas, and other vessels of the kind 
which they could find at the bridge of the Rialto, 
and should proceed with the utmost expedition to 
the Lazaretto for the thousand soldiers of Lieves- 
tein who yet remained there. During this voyage 
they should conduct themselves as peacibly as 
possible that they might not be obliged to declare 



THE SPANIARDS. ' 67 

themselves before the arrival of the troops. If, 
however, any thing should occur to discover 
them, Pierre should intrench himself in the 
place of St. Mark, Renault seize the Arsenal in 
the manner which would be described, and they 
should then fire two cannon to serve as a signal 
to the brigantines of the Duke of Ossuno, who 
would be ready to enter Venice, and the Span- 
iards they brought would supply the place of the 
Wallons, for whom they had sent. 

*' If, however, the,y met with no interruption 
during their voyage, when these Wallons should 
have landed at the place of St. Mark, Pierre 
should take another five hundred with the five 
hundred men he ah'eady had, and the sergeant- 
major Durand to command them. They would be- 
gin by placing in order of battle these thousand 
men, then Pierre should take two hundred, and 
render himself master of the ducal palace, and 
particularly of the Armoury, that he might supply 
those who were deficient in arms, and prevent 
their enemies from making use of it. One hundred 
under Bribe obtain command of La Secque, and 
one hundred more headed by Brainville should 
take the Procuratie, by means of several men 
whom they should contrive to introduce into the 
steeple during the day. These last hundred 
should remain as a guard whilst the performance 



68 CONSPIRACY OP 

lasted, so as to prevent an alarm being sounded.- 
They should also occupy all the streets leading 
to the square with other guards, and place at 
the entrances artillery pointed towards the street. 
Whilst waiting for the possession of the Arsenal^ 
they should seize the galleys of the council of 
ten, which were near, and could be obtained 
without difficulty. In all those places of which 
they becotrbe masters, they should establish 
guards, and indiscriminately assassinate all 
whom they met ; and during these several per- 
formances around the place of St. Mark, the 
sergeant-major should remain drawn up in the 
centre with the rest of the troops, and all must 
be effected with the least possible noise. 

^^ Immediately afterward they should com- 
mence discovering themselves by blowing up 
the door of the Arsenal. At this norse the eight 
conspirators who had drawn a plan of it, and 
who would be within, should place fire in the 
four corners v/ith fire-works prepared for this 
purpose, at the house of the Ambassador, and 
should poinard the principal commanders. This 
could be easily accomplished amidst the confu- 
sion which the fire and the noise of the petards 
would occasion, particularly as they were not 
suspected by these commanders. They should 
then join Renault, who, as soon as he entered 



THE SPANIARDS. 69 

would assist them in killing the remainder, and 
the soldiers would place the artillery in the most 
suitable parts of the city, such as the Arena de 
Mari, the Fontego de Tedeschi, the salt maga- 
zines, upon the steeple of the Procuratie, on the 
Rialto, and other conspicuous stations, from 
which they might reduce the city to ruins in 
case of resistance. At the same time that Re- 
nault blew up the Arsenal, Pierre should force 
the prison of St. Mark, and arm the prisoners ; 
they would murder the principal Senators, and 
those persons who were suborned, should set fire 
to four places of the city distant as possible from 
each other that the confusion might be greater. 

*^ The Spaniards of the Duke of Ossuno, on 
hearing the signal which should be given them, 
before conquering the Arsenal, were to land at 
the place of St. Mark, and scatter themselves 
through the chief quarters of the city, such as 
St. George, the quarter of the Jews, ^^e. conduct- 
ed by nine of the principal conspirators. 

** They should cry nothing but Liberty ; and 
after all these events should have taken place 
pillage would be permitted excepting amongst 
the foreigners, from whom it would be forbidden 
them to take any thing under penalty of their 
lives. And none were to be injured unless they 
showed great resistance.'' 



70 CONSPIRACY OF 

Nolot found things in so good a condition on 
arriving at Naples that the six thousand men 
were shipped the next day under the command 
of an Englishman named Haillot. To give less 
suspicion, the Duke of Ossuno sent his large ves- 
sels a considerable distance round to arrive at 
their stations, but Haillot with the brigantines 
took the shortest course. On the second day of 
their voyage this little fleet was overtaken by 
Barbary corsairs who attacked them. As they 
were only prepared to serve as vehicles for the 
men they carried, and not for battle, they were 
much harrassed by the cannon of the barbarians 
whose brigantines were more manageable and 
better armed. Although the quantity of persons 
who filled the Neapolitan fleet hardly left them 
space sufficient to defend themselves with order, 
yet as they were all chosen Spaniards, and gave 
such heavy blows to such as attempted to board 
them, that the corsairs would perhaps have re- 
pented disturbing their voyage had they not both 
been dispersed by a furious tempest which sep- 
arated them in the heat of the combat. The lit- 
tle fleet was so much damaged that it was some 
time before it could again put to sea. 

The Marquis of Bedemar perceiving by this 
news that he could not trouble the approaching 
fete, assisted at it with the utmost magnificence. 



THE SPANIARDS. * 71 

He declared in full Senate, in making his com- 
pliments to the new doge, that the joy which he 
personally felt at his elevation proceeded from a 
hope that his serenity would preserve on the 
throne the favourable disposition he had shown 
in Friuli for the accomplishment of peace. 

In going from this audience he sent for Re- 
nault and Pierre and demanded of them if they 
thought it best to abandon the enterprise. They 
replied, that not only were they of a contrary 
opinion, but that their companions had not ap- 
peared more shaken by the misfortune of the 
fleet than if it had arrived safely in port, and 
that they were all ready to take the necessary 
means to maintain the party in its present state 
until a more favourable occasion should occur. 
The Ambassador, who had asked this question 
with trembling, embraced them with tears of 
joy after this answer. He spoke to them with a 
gaity and vehemence which would have removed 
all fear, and inspired intripidity and audacity 
into the most cowardly. He said that reverses 
which in common affairs might overcome the 
soul, were accidents that were natural in extra- 
ordinary enterprises, and they were the only 
means of testing greatness of mind. That they 
were only capable of achieving a great design 



72 CONSPIRACY OF 

after once having seen it overthrown with tran- 
quility and firmness. 

It was at last resolved between t?ie Marquis 
and his two confidants that they should defer the 
execution of their design until the festival of the 
Ascension, which was not far distant, and which 
was celebrated with great solemnity at Venice. 
In waiting for it they would retain the troops 
where they then were, furnishing them with 
every convenience, and not be sparing of money 
to the commanders for this eifect. That of the 
three hundred who were in Venice they should 
dismiss but a part, keeping the others as hostages 
for their fidelity. That the subalterns should be 
sent to their troops both to restrain the soldiers 
in their duty and to get them from the city where 
so large a number of officers might become sus- 
pected. That they should occupy in the most 
agreeable manner possible those who remained 
that they might not become tired of waiting, or 
have leisure to reflect on the actual state of 
things. It was necessary the twenty chief con- 
spirators should carefully observe their conduct ; 
and to oblige the Republic to suffer the detention 
of the troops of Lievestein, and not to dismiss 
those of Nassau, the Governor of Milan and the 
Viceroy of Naples should not execute the arti- 
cles of the treaty. 



THE SPANIARDS. 73 

All that the human mind could imagine of 
pretences, however unreasonable, were invented 
by the Marquis of Bedemar, and put in practice 
by Don Pedro and the Duke of Ossuno. Not- 
withstanding they were every day forced to take 
some steps towards concluding a peace. The 
council of Spain did not dare to depend entirely 
upon the success of so doubtful an enterprise as 
the conspiracy, and France, who wished to sup- 
port the treaty of Paris, obliged the Venetians to 
consent that the Duke of Savoy should disband 
the troops who had remained in the ''pays de 
Vaud,'' and who served as an excuse for the de^ 
lays of Don Pedro. At this new difficulty the 
Marquis of Bedemar endeavored to prevent the 
rendering back of those places which had been 
taken in Monferrat, by the rumour, that as soon 
as the Duke of Mantua should be established 
there, he would enter into an agreement w^ith 
the Spaniards. 

At the same time Don Pedro quarrelled, with- 
out reason, with a minister from Savoy, who had 
accompanied the French Ambassadors to Milan, 
and commanded him to leave the place. The 
Duke, irritated by this insult, recalled them and 
ceased to evacuate the contested places ; but 
the Ambassadors making him understand that 
he was falling into the snare spread for him by 



74 CONSPIRACY OF 

Don Pedro, he suddenly surrendered all which 
had been taken. The astonishment of Don Pe- 
dro was so great at this news, that he could not 
prevent showing it in public by his conversation. 
It was necessary for him to give up his prisoners 
and all the small places, but for Verceil, which 
was the important point, he made such strange 
difficulties that Spain menaced to recall him be- 
fore the usual time. As an excuse he said it 
would be disgraceful for him to surrender that 
place whilst the French Ambassadors remained 
at Milan, as if he was forced to it by their pre- 
sence. They retired ; he then declared that the 
Duke of Savoy must first restore certain territo- 
ries belonging to the ministers from Mantua ; 
these territories were yielded, but still Verceil 
was withheld. At last France, who wished to 
conclude the marriage of Madam Christian, sis- 
ter of his Majesty, with the Prince of Piedmont, 
explained herself in so decided a manner in re- 
gard to this place, that Don Pedro began to send 
away, but with incredible slowness, the ammuni- 
tion and artillery which it contained. The Mar- 
quis of Bedemar having requested him to retard 
yet more his movements, he exacted new securi- 
ties from the Duke of Savoy in favor of the Duke 
of Mantua, but the Mantuan ministers them- 
selves, tired of so many delays, declared by a 



THE SPANIARDS. 



75 



public decree that they did not demand these 
securities. 

Whatever chagrin this declaration caused the 
Marquis of Bedemar, the conduct of the Duke of 
Ossuno occasioned much more. This Duke, 
fatigued by the complaints which were every 
where made of him by the Venetians for troubling 
the navigation of the gulf, no longer knowing 
what to say in his defence, at last answered that 
he should continue to do so as long as the Vene- 
tians retained in their employ the most inveterate 
enemies of the king his master. It was easy to 
judge, by the care the Ambassador had taken to 
detain the Dutch troops, of whom the Duke of 
Ossuno complained, what his despair must have 
been at this answer of the Viceroy's. He had 
no doubt that the Senate, who wished for peace 
at any price, would immediately dismiss them 
that the Viceroy might have no excuse. But 
success, for once, deceived even the prudence of 
the Marquis of Bedemar. 

Some demon favourable to the caprices of the 
Duke of Ossuno, made the Venetians adopt a 
resolution directly contrary to their inclination 
and their interest. It was represented to the 
Senate that the Republic had shown too evident- 
ly its great desire for peace, and it was that 
which made the Spanish ministers so difficult in 



76 CONSPIRACY OF 

concluding it; that if they satisfied the Viceroy 
in his demand he would believe he could give 
laws to Venice, and that so far from disbanding 
the Dutch, they ought to retain the troops of 
Lievestein, who were soon to depart, until the 
consummation of the treaty. 

The joy which this resolution occasioned in 
the Marquis of Bedemar was troubled by the 
discovery of the plot at Crema. L' Alfier, a 
provencal, and an Italian Captain, whom they 
had bribed, had quarrelled at play and fought ; 
the Captain was mortally wounded, and to relieve 
his conscience before he expired, he made a con- 
fession to the Venetian commander. 

L' Alfier, who suspected what would happen, 
as soon as he had wounded him, fled with those 
of his companions to whom he could give warn- 
ing ; the others were taken, and amongst them 
the French lieutenant, who was the chief of the 
enterprise. As Renault had only been known 
as an agent from Milan, and as they were igno- 
rant of what had become of him, the credit of 
this conspiracy rested entirely upon Don Pedro. 

Eight days afterward, the sergeant-major, who 
was to give up Maran, having retrenched the 
wages of a valet of the overseer, and a pensioner 
of the Republic, these persons, outrageous for 
their loss, took occasion of his absence to enter 



THE SPANIARDS. 77 

his house, broke open his coffers and took pos- 
session of his money and papers. They found 
amongst them letters which spoke of his design. 
As he had only known the agent of the Duke af 
Ossuno, with whom he had negotiated, he could 
accuse none but the Duke ; he however chose a 
nobler part. He constantly answered in the 
midst of his torments that he knew nothing could 
save him whatever he might discover, and that 
he would rather leave his associates, provided he 
had any, with power to revenge his death, than 
to make them perish without any advantage to 
himself Thanks to God were publicly rendered 
in Venice for these two discoveries ; but the suc- 
cess of the enterprise became much more cer- 
tain than it had ever been, for the Senate believ- 
ed it had at last discovered the hidden cause of 
the irregular proceedings of the Spaniards, and 
seeing these two affairs miscarry, imagined they 
might now repose quietly, and did not doubt 
the treaties would be fulfilled. 

But the time for action had now arrived. 
From the Sunday which precedes the Ascension 
until Pentacost, there is held at Venice one of 
the most celebrated fairs in the world. The 
great resort of merchants did not make the city 
more difficult to surprise, and it gave an oppor- 
tunity to the thousand soldiers to enter with 



78 CONSPIRACY OF 

them and remain there without being remarked. 
It was easy for them to leave the Venetian cities 
in which they were scattered, as for some time 
past those who were the most anxious to return 
to their country had deserted, and the pedestas 
had taken no notice of it, as it reduced the num- 
ber to be paid by the Republic. Fearing that 
deserting in such numbers, within so short a 
time, might excite astonishment, they gave out 
on leaving that they were going to the fair at 
Venice. They disguised themselves like people 
of different professions, and they took care to 
lodge together with those who spoke a different 
language that they might not be suspected of 
any understanding with them, and appeared not 
to know each other. 

The five hundred Spaniards destined to ex- 
ecute the plot at Crema, which had been discov- 
ered, were sent at the same time by Don Pedro 
to the environs of Bresse that they might seize 
on that city at the first news of the success of 
the conspiracy, and through the means of the 
faction which had been formed there by the lieu- 
tenant of the Count of Nassau, and which still 
existed. The commander of these Spaniards 
w^as ordered to bring them directly to Venice on 
the first notice which he should receive from 
Renault. 



THE SPANIARDS. 79 

The Venetian fleet, which had retired to Dal- 
matia, was held in readiness to put to sea at the 
first command, on account of the continual move- 
ments of the Duke of Ossuno. Pierre sent to 
the officers who commanded his twelve vessels 
during his absence, fire-works of the most violent 
kind, to distribute secretly throughout the other 
vessels of the fleet the evening of action. As 
no one suspected these officers, this was an 
easy task for them to execute without being per- 
ceived. He told them to measure their matches 
so exactly that they should all take fire at the 
same time, but if any vessel escaped to attack it 
and either become masters of it or sink it with 
their cannon. That they should then proceed 
immediately to Venice without losing a moment 
of time. They must be on the spot ready to ex- 
ecute these orders, but should wait for a new 
mandate before proceeding to fulfil them. The 
day chosen was the Sunday before Ascension, 
which was the first of the fair. 

The Duke of Ossuno had his little fleet so well 
escorted this time, that it arrived without any 
accident six miles from Venice. It was divided 
into two parts which kept at a distance from each 
other that they might be the less remarked. The 
largest was composed of boats like those of fish- 
ermen, that they might not occasion suspicion 



80 CONSPIRACY OF 

and the rest consisted of Brigantines, resembling 
Corsairs. On Saturday morning, word was sent 
to Haillot to leave his post the next day at an hour 
necessary for arriving in sight of Venice between 
day and night, and that he should raise the stand- 
ard of St. Mark. He must seize some small 
islands which he would be obliged to pass, and 
which were without any defence, but from which 
he might give notice to Venice of his approach. 
That afterward he should boldly present himself 
before the two castles of Lido and Malamoco, as 
it was well known they were not garrisoned and 
he could pass between them without any obstacle. 
That he should advance within cannon shot of 
Venice, and when there he should send notice to 
Pierre, who, by the return of the boat which 
brought the news, would despatch sailors to serve 
as guides lest he should run aground on the 
banks w^ith which the marshes that surrounded 
Venice are filled, or be wrecked against the 
rocks which render the entrance to this port 
almost inaccessable to those who are not accus- 
tomed to it. 

As the whole day was requisite to arrange af- 
fairs for the performance of the night, Renault 
and Pierre thought it best to consult w^ith their 
associates the evening previous for the last time, 
and Pierre left it to Renault to represent to them 



THE SPANIARDS. 81 

the actual state of things, and give them the ne- 
cessary advice. Notwithstanding their exertions 
they could not be assembled until almost night. 
The party consisted of the three Frenchmen 
who lodged with Renault, the lieutenant of the 
Count of Nassau, the three petardeers, L' An- 
glade, the two officers from the Arsenal, the 
Captain and the lieutenant who had been em- 
ployed there, Nolot, the two Brulards, Jaffier, 
Robert the Hollander, Theodore the Savoyard 
who was at the scaling of Geneva, and the engi- 
neer Revellido. These twenty persons were 
closeted with Renault and Pierre at the house of 
the Greek in the most retired part of her dwell- 
ing. After the precautions usual in such meet- 
ings Renault addressed them. 

He commenced by a simple and clear narra- 
tion of the present state of affairs, of the compa- 
rative strength of the Republic, and their own, 
of the distribution of the city and the fleet, of 
the preparations of Don Pedro and the Duke of 
Ossuno, of the arms and other provisions of war 
that were at the house of the Spanish Ambassa- 
dor, of the understanding which existed between 
them and part of the Senate, and amongst the no- 
bles, and at last, of the exact knowledge which 
they had acquired of every thing necessary to be 
known. After having received the approbation 



82 CONSPIRACY OF 

of his auditors by the recital of these facts, of 
whose truth they were as well informed as him- 
self, and which were almost as much the effect 
of their cares as of his own. ^^ Behold, my 
friends," continued he, '^ the road which is des- 
tined to conduct you to the glory you seek ; each 
of you can judge if it promises success. We 
possess infallible means of introducing ten thou- 
sand warriors into a city in which there are not 
two hundred to oppose them, and whose plunder 
will draw to our side all the foreigners whom cu- 
riosity or commerce have attracted there, and 
the people themselves will aid us to despoil those 
nobles who have so often oppressed them, as 
soon as they can do it with safety. The best 
vessels of the fleet are ours, and the others are 
with those who will reduce them to ashes. The 
Arsenal, that famous Arsenal, the wonder of 
Europe and the terror of Asia, is already in our 
power. The nine brave men who are here pre- 
sent, and who have been ready to seize it for 
almost six months, have so well concerted their 
measures during this delay, that they do not be- 
lieve they hazard any thing in being ready to 
answer with their heads for giving us possession 
of it. If we had neither the troops of the Laza- 
retto or those of the mainland, the fleet of Haillot 
to support us, or the five hundred men of Don 



THE SPANIARDS. 83 

Pedro, the twenty Venetian vessels of our com- 
panion, the large vessels of the Duke of Ossuno, 
or the Spanish army in Lombardy, our own 
strength with our knowledge and our thousand 
soldiers would prove enough for the success of 
our undertaking. However, the different re- 
sources I have just named are so disposed that 
either of them might fail without being prejudi- 
cial to the others ; they might be of mutual ser- 
vice, but they could not injure each other. It 
is almost impossible for them all to succeed, but 
one alone is sufficient. 

** That if, after having taken every precaution 
that human prudence can suggest, we may judge 
of the success which fortune destines us, what 
other token can we desire of her favor than 
those we have already received? Yes, ray 
friends, prodigies evidently work for us. It is 
an unheard of event in any history that an enter- 
prise of this nature should be partly discovered 
without being entirely ruined, and ours has 
already experienced five reverses, the least of 
which in all human pobability would have been 
sufficient to overthrow it. Who would not have 
believed that the loss of Spinosa, who was intrigu- 
ing for us, would have occasioned ours ? That 
the disbanding of the troops of Lievestein, who 
were devoted to us, would have revealed what we 



84 CONSPIRACY OF 

were endeavoring to keep concealed ? That the 
dispersion of the little fleet would have discon- 
certed all our measures, and have been a fruitful 
source of new inconveniences ? That the dis- 
coveries at Creraa and Mar an would have neces- 
sarily betrayed the whole party ? However, all 
these events have produced no serious consequen- 
ces, the track has not been followed that would 
have conducted them to us, and they have not 
profited by the light which has been given them. 
Such profound repose has never before preceed- 
ed so great a revolution. We are confidently 
assured that the Senate rests in perfect security. 
Our protecting genius has blinded the most clear 
sighted, given confidence to the timid, lulled to 
rest the suspicious, and confounded the cunning. 
We are yet alive, my dear friends, we are even 
more powerful than we were before these disas- 
ters. They have served but to try our constan- 
cy. We live, and our lives will soon prove mor- 
tal to the tyrants of this place. 

*^ Can such extraordinary good fortune be 
natural? Have we not cause to presume it is 
the work of some superintending power ? And 
in reality, my colleagues, what is there on earth 
worthy of the protection of heaven if it be not an 
enterprise like ours ? We shall destroy the most 
detestable of governments, we shall restore to 



THE SPANIARDS. 86 

the poor subjects of this state that of which the 
rapacity of the nobles would have forever depriv- 
ed them; we shall save the honor of all those 
women who might be born hereafter under their 
dominion with sufficient charms to attract them; 
we shall recall to life an infinite number of un- 
happy beings whom their cruelty is ready to sac- 
rifice to their slightest resentment and for the 
most trifling causes. In a word we shall punish 
those men who the most deserve it, and who are 
equally bla^^kened with vices which nature abhors 
and which modesty scarce suffers. 

" Do not, then, let us fear to take a sword in 
one hand and a torch in the other, to exterminate 
these wretches. And when we shall see that 
palace, where impiety sits enthroned, burning 
with a fire proceeding rather from heaven than 
from us, those tribunals, sullied with the tears 
and the wealth of innocence, consumed by de- 
vouring flames, the infuriated soldiers drawing 
their hands reeking from the breasts of the wick- 
ed, death surrounding all and the most frightful 
spectacles that night and military license can 
produce, let us then remember, my dear friends, 
that there is nothing pure amongst men, that the 
most praiseworthy actions are subject to the 
greatest evils, and at last, that in this place, 
wkexe so many crimes desolate the earth, the 



86 CONSPIRACY OP 

tumult of the coming night will be the only 
means of obtaining the everlasting reign of 
peace, innocence and liberty." 

This discourse was listened to by the assembly 
wuth that complacency with which men generally 
receive sentiments conformable to their own. 
Nevertheless Renault, wha had observed their 
countenances, remarked that Jaffier, one of the 
best friends of the Captain, suddenly changed 
from extreme attention to an anxiety which he 
endeavored in vain to conceal, and that there re- 
mained in his eyes an expression of astonishment 
and sadness which proved him overcome by hor- 
For. He spoke of it to Pierre, who at first 
ridiculed it ; but after having observed Jaffier 
for some time was of the same opinion. Renault^ 
who perfectly understood the resembknce and 
connexion which exist between the most secret 
movements of the soul, and the exterior demon- 
strations which escape during great agitations of 
mind, having deliberately examined the manner 
and countenance of Jaffier, thought it his duty 
to declare to Pierre that he did not believe that 
he was to be trusted. 

Pierre, who knew Jaffier to be one of the 
bravest men in the world, accused him of judging 
tos^ precipitately, but Renault having determined 
to justify his suspicion, explained sa clearly his 



THE SPANIARDS. 87 

reasons and their consequences, that although 
Pierre could not feel them so sensibly, he at 
least agreed that Jaffier was a man to be watch- 
ed. He, however, represented to Renault that 
even if Jaffier was shaken in his purpose, which 
he could hardly believe, there was not sufficient 
time before the next evening for him to resolve 
to betray them, and that in the situation of their 
affairs they could not possibly take any new mea- 
sures, and it was a risk they would therefore be 
obliged to run. Renault replied that there was 
one sure way of not being exposed to it, and that 
was to assassinate Jaffier that evening. Pierre 
remained some time mute at this proposal, but 
he at last answered that he could not resolve to 
murder his best friend upon a mere suspicion. 
That the assassination might be productive of 
very bad consequences, that he feared it might 
terrify their associates and appear odious to 
them, as it would make them suppose that they 
considered themselves possessed of full power 
over them, and were the sovereign arbiters of 
life and death. They could not hope that all 
would understand the necessity of removing Jaf- 
fier in the way that they themselves believed 
proper, and that not comprehending it, each con- 
spirator would see, with regret, his life exposed 
at the slightest suspicion like that which they 



OO CONSPIRACY OF 

then felt. That when minds were much agitated 
it took but little to change them, and that any 
alteration made under such excitement was al- 
ways of the utmost importance, as all their 
resolutions were then in the extreme ; that if 
they wished to conceal the cause of the disap- 
pearance of Jaffier, it was more to be feared that 
they would believe he was discovered and had 
fled, or was a prisoner, or traitor, and that having 
a distinguished part assigned him, whatever pre- 
tence they might invent, his absence on the even- 
ing of performance would intimidate them, and 
suggest sad thoughts. 

Renault listened attentively to the discourse 
of Pierre, when one of their people entered with 
an order from the Senate, which had just been 
received, directing the Captain to embark all 
those officers on the next morning who had any 
command in the fleet. At the same time a note 
was brought from the Ambassador discovering 
the cause of this order. The Duke of Ossuno 
had not been able to leave Naples to join his 
large vessels so secretly but that the spies of the 
Republic discovered it. As he had left an order 
that no conveyance for Venice should be furnish- 
ed within a certain time, all the letters address- 
ed to that place had been detained, and the 
Venetians could not sooner receive notice of his 



THE SPANIARDS. 89 

departure. The Archduke, newly elected king 
of Bohemia, had demanded assistance from him 
against the rebels of that country, who had be- 
gan to make a movement, and the Viceroy hav- 
ing boasted he would bring these succours by the 
gulf to the ports of the Archduke in Istria, the 
Venetians had requested him, through this prince 
himself, to take another route. But as he was 
never actuated by reasons which govern other 
men, when they knew that he had joined the 
fleet they did not doubt that his intentions were 
himself to conduct these troops the way on 
which he had first resolved. They did not wish 
to dispute the passage with him, as they could 
easily have done, because they did not seek a 
rupture, but they sent their fleet to the coast of 
Istria where he would land his troops, to observe 
them and to preserve them from the various 
temptations to which they might be exposed by a 
sight of their seaports. 

The firmness of men frequently proceeds from 
a vivid idea of the danger in which they are plac- 
ed. By means of this imagination the soul be- 
comes familarised with all the circumstances 
connected with this peril, however frightful they 
may be ; but all their resolution is attached to 
these circumstances alone, and if any thing oc- 



90 CONSPIRACY OP 

curs to change their nature the firmest constancy 
is in danger of being overcome. 

Renault and Pierre feared this might be the 
case with their associates at this unexpected era- 
barcation of the Venetian squadron, and they 
heard this news with real sorrow, as they feared 
they might be obliged, notwithstanding all their 
resources, to alter in some way the manner in 
which they had first intended to execute their 
enterprise. If the night had not been so far 
advanced the plot could have been consummated 
at the moment ; but day-light would appear be- 
fore they could warn the little fleet to approach 
within cannon shot of Venice, where it ought to 
be stationed at the commencement of the action, 
or to summon the troops who were at the Lazer- 
etto. As the Venetians would sail on the next 
day, if Haillot should pursue the plan first intend- 
ed, he would meet people going from Venice to 
join the fleet. The departure of the squadron 
was as favourable a circumstance as the conspi- 
rators could wish for, as it would place Haillot 
between it and the city, and they at last agreed 
that it would be best to give it time to proceed 
some distance. The greatest difficulty was to 
resolve whether Pierre, L' Anglade, the three 
petardeers with the other conspirators who had 
been ordered by the Senate to join the squadron, 



THE SPANIARDS. 91 

should obey. Their presence appeared indis- 
pensable at Venice, especially that of Pierre. 
However, he was the one who could least dis- 
pense with going, the important command he 
held in the fleet would render his absence more 
remarkable than all the others together. As the 
greatest part of them were employed about his 
vessels, he could supply the want of them by his 
authority if he was present, and prevent their 
absence from being perceived. These reasons 
determined him to depart with L' Anglade alone, 
whose employment in the fleet depended on the 
commander-in-chief, as did also that of the three 
petardeers ; but for these three last he had rather 
hazard making an excuse than to take them 
with him. The commander asked for them as 
soon as he saw Pierre, who replied, he believed 
them to be concealed at the houses of courtisans, 
as also some oflicers of his vessels that he could 
not find, and that the precipitation with which 
he had obeyed orders had left him no time to 
discover them. The departure of the comman- 
der was so much pressed by the Senate that he 
had no time to send for them, much less to wait 
until they were found. 

Before embarking Pierre had spoken to Jafiier 
alone ; he prayed him to keep his place near to 
Renault the night of the execution. He exag- 



92 CONSPIRACY OF 

gerated the confidence that was placed in his 
courage and prudence, and that unless he had 
been assured of it he would never have had the 
resolution to leave, but he believed he left an- 
other self to his associates in Jaffier. During 
this conversation Pierre observed him with atten- 
tion, but he was so much overcome with these 
poofs of the esteem in which he was held that he 
answered with such marks of zeal and gratitude 
as would have satisfied the most suspicious man. 
It was the last effort of his dying resolution, it 
disappeared with the face of his friend, and no 
longer having before his eyes the only man who 
could restrain him, he abandoned himself entire- 
ly to his doubts. 

The description which Renault had given, at 
the end of his speech, of the night of the comple- 
tion of the conspiracy, had struck him so forci- 
bly that he could not moderate his emotions of 
pity. His imagination dwelt upon this picture. 
It represented in the most lively colors all the 
cruelty and injustice that would be inevitable on 
such an occasion. From that moment he heard 
on all sides the cries of children trodden under 
feet, the groans of old men murdered, and the 
shrieks of women dishonored. He saw palaces 
falling, temples on fire, and holy places covered 
with blood. Venice, sad, unhappy Venice, was 



THE SPANIARDS. 93 

no longer present to his eyes, as triumphant over 
the Ottoman and the proud Spaniard, but in 
ashes or in chains swimming in the ensanguined 
tide of its inhabitants rather than in the waters 
that surrounded it. 

This sad image pursued him night and day. 
It disturbed, excited and overcame him. In 
vain he endeavored to fly from it. More obsti- 
nate than the fabled furies, it occupied him at 
his repast, it troubled his repose, it entered even 
into his dreams. But to betray his friends ! and 
such friends, so intrepid, so intelligent, and each 
remarkable for some great talent. It would be 
the work of ages to again unite so large a num- 
ber of extraordinary men. At the moment when 
they would forever render themselves memora- 
ble to posterity, should he snatch from them the 
fruit ready to be gathered of the most wonderful 
resolution that had ever entered into the mind 
of man. And how would they perish ? By tor- 
ments more dreadful than any invented by tyrants 
in past ages. Who does not know that there are 
prisons in Venice more capable lof overcoming 
the firmness of the bravest man, than the most 
frightful deaths of other countries ? These last 
reflexions, which attacked Jaffier in his weakest 
part, confirmed him in his first intentions. The 
pity which he felt for his companions balanced 



94 CONSPIRACY OP 

that which the desolation of Venice excited, and 
he continued in this uncertainty until the day of 
Ascension to which the performance of the plot 
had been deferred. 

In the morning they received news from 
Pierre. He told them he could answer for the 
fleet, that it would be stationed near Mar an, and 
that when they sent to the Lazaretto for the 
troops of Lievestein they must send a boat to 
give him notice, and he should wait for this no- 
tice before he commenced his own operations. 
They gave to Haillot the guides that were pro- 
mised him, and introduced into the steeple of 
the Procuratie of St. Mark, men who being ac- 
quainted with the guards, contrived to mingle 
soporific drugs with their drink, and also per- 
suaded them to indulge themselves to excess on 
account of the public rejoicings of the day. 
Orders were given to some chosen officers to 
seize the houses of those Senators who were the 
most to be feared, and put them to death. To 
each was assigned a particular house, and also 
to the principal conspirators and the other offi- 
cers the post which he must occupy, the men he 
would need, where he should obtain them, the 
watch word by which they were to be known, 
and the road to conduct them. They also made 
known to the troops of the Lazaretto, the Span- 



THE SPANIARDS. 95 

iards of the fleet of Haillot, and to the thousand 
Hollanders, who were already in Venice, in what 
way they should proceed to the place of St. 
Mark, where they were all to meet, the places 
they were to occupy, the commanders who were 
appointed for them and the pass-word. They 
sent persons, the least liable to suspicion, to visit 
the galley of the council of ten, who found the 
artillery in a state to answer their purpose. 

Jaffier had the curiosity to witness the cere- 
mony of the Doge espousing the sea, as he be- 
lieved it was the last time it would ever take 
place. His compassion was redoubled at the 
sight of the public rejoicings ; the tranquillity of 
the unhappy Venetians made him feel more sen- 
sibly their approaching desolation, and he re- 
turned more irresolute than ever. But heaven 
at last would not abandon the work of twelve 
ages, and of so much wisdom, to the fury of a 
courtesan and a troop of desperate men. 

The good genius of the Republic suggested an 
expedient to Jaffier, by which he believed he could 
at once save Venice and his associates. He 
sought Barthelemi Comino, secretary of the coun- 
cil of ten, and told him he had some pressing 
news to communicate which nearly concerned the 
safety of the state, but beforehand he wished the 
Doge and the council to promise him one favor 



96 CONSPIRACY OP 

and that they must engagCj by the most sacred 
oaths, that the senate should ratify their promise ; 
that this favor consisted of the lives and safety of 
twenty-two persons whom he would name, what- 
ever crime they might have committed. But 
they need not suppose they could force his secret 
from him by tortures without granting his request, 
as there were none so horrible that could draw 
one single word from his mouth. The Ten were 
assembled in a moment, and they sent immedi- 
ately to the Doge to receive from him the promise 
that Jaffier demanded. He did not hesitate more 
than themselves in giving it, and Jaffier, perfect- 
ly contented, discovered the conspiracy. 

It appeared to them so horrible and so wonder- 
ful that they could not believe it. But as it was 
easy for them to discover the truth, they sent 
Comino to the steeple of the Procuratie for that 
purpose. He brought back word that he had found 
all the guards intoxicated or asleep. He was 
then despatched to the Arsenal. It was some 
time before he could find the officers, who were 
bribed, but at last, a servant intimidated by his 
menaces, showed a small door, which he broke 
open, after having knocked at it several times 
without effect. They were discovered with the 
three petardeers putting the finishing stroke to 
some fire works destined for the plot. He de- 



THE SPANIARDS. 97 

manded of them why they worked on a festival 
day, and why they had not opened the door when 
he knocked. They answered, with great inge- 
nuity, that the petardeers were to join the fleet 
the next day, and the commander had written 
them to bring a large quantity of fire*works ready 
for use; that they had not found as many made 
as had been ordered, and they had requested the 
officers to assist them in their work, and as it 
might be of consequence they had dispensed with 
keeping the festival. That they might do it 
without scandal they had shut themselves up as 
he had found them, in the most retired part of 
the Arsenal. Although Comino had nothing to 
say to this answer, he caused them all to be 
arrested. 

The ten, more and more alarmed, sent to the 
house of the Greek, but found no one. The men 
who had drugged the wine of the guards had ap- 
peared to be asleep when they saw Comino enter, 
but he had hardly left them before they ran to 
the house of the courtesan, where they so well 
succeeded in giving the alarm, that, without los- 
ing a moment, Nolot, Robert, Revellido, Retrosi, 
Villa-Mezzana, Durand, Ternon and Robert 
Brulard, who were there by chance, threw them- 
selves into a boat which they had kept at the 



^98 CONSPIRACY OP 

Rialto to send for the troops at the Lazaretto, 
and happily escaped from Venice. 

The sorrow which was felt by the council of 
ten for their escape, made them resolve to visit 
the houses of the French and Spanish Ambassa- 
dors without delay. They politely requested 
admittance on affairs that nearly concerned the 
safety of the republic. The French Ambassador 
immediately accorded it, and Renault was taken 
with Laurent Brulard and Bribe. The Spanish 
Ambassador refused, with anger, to receive them. 
He alleged the privileges of his situation, and 
protested with fury against the violence they 
were committing in forcing an entrance. There 
was found sufficient arms to equip five hundred 
men, sixty petards, and an enormous quantity of 
powder, fire-works, and other things of the kind. 
An exact inventory was taken, and they were 
assisted by the Marquis of Bedemar, who at the 
same time ridiculed them. 

At the time they were taking this inventory 
to the council often, a nobleman of the house of 
Valiera arrived with Brainville and Theodore, 
two of the principal conspirators. They had 
heard that all was discovered, and despairing of 
saving themselves, as all the ports were closed 
since the escape from the Greek's, they adopted 
the plan of appearing to discover the conspiracy, 



THE SPANIARDS. 99 

and for this purpose they had sought this noble- 
man whom they had known in Flanders, for him 
to conduct them to the council of ten, where 
they were arrested. All the taverns, hotels, 
chambers that were let, and every place where 
strangers could conceal themselves were search- 
ed ; and th?y arrested all the Dutch, French, 
Spanish, Wallon, Neapolitan and Milanese offi- 
cers they could find, and who amounted to nearly 
four hundred. 

Whilst these things were taking place two 
Dauphinese arrived from Orange, equipped in a 
manner which showed they had thrown them- 
selves into the boat which brought them, imme- 
diately on quitting their horses. They declared 
to the council that some Frenchmen, friends of 
theirs in Venice, had writte'n, inviting them, if 
they wished to enrich themselves, to come imme- 
diately there, as a conspiracy was ready to be 
executed to seize that city and give it up to 
plunder; but instead of profiting by the informa- 
tion in the way intended, they had hurried to 
give notice of the infamous design. They were 
thanked, lodged honorably, and requested to re- 
pose themselves until the Senate could deliberate 
upon the recompense due them. 

But at last day-light appeared, the Senate as- 
sembled, and the Marquis of Bedemar demanded 



100 CONSPIRACY OF 

an audience. They granted it from curiosity 
alone. The noise of the conspiracy had spread 
through the city and produced a frightful distur- 
bance. The people who indistinctly knew that 
the Spaniards were the authors of it, assembled 
around the palace of the Ambassador, to force 
an entrance, and they were ready to put fire to 
it when those who were to conduct him to the 
audience arrived. Their commission was made 
known, and the people, flattering themselves the 
Senate would inflict on him an exemplary pun- 
ishment, allowed him to depart, accompanying 
him and loading him with all the abuse and im- 
precations imaginable. 

The Ambassador, having entered the Senate, 
commenced by atrocious complaints of the vio- 
lence which had been committed in his house 
contrary to the rights of nations, and he accom- 
panied these complaints with menaces of ven- 
geance so fierce and cruel that the greater part 
of the Senators were in consternation, and feared 
that this man had yet some resource unknown 
to them by which to achieve his enterprise. The 
Doge replied to him that an apology should be 
made for this outrage when he w^ould give a rea- 
son for the warlike preparations discovered in his 
palace, when as Ambassador he ought to be a 
minister of peace. He answered that he was 



THE SPANIARDS. 101 

astonished that persons who were generally ac- 
counted so wise should be so inexperienced as to 
insult him under so gross a pretext ; that they 
knew as well as himself that these provisions 
were only deposited in his house, as they had 
often been before, to send to Naples and to the 
Tyrol ; and as for the arms, all the world knew 
that there were none so good as those manufac- 
tured in the cities of the Republic ; for the fire 
works and other things of the kind, he had seized 
the occasion of some workmen offering them- 
selves to him, of extraordinary skill, to gratify 
his curiosity. 

The Doge interrupted him by saying these 
workmen were worthless beings, or rather mon- 
sters born for the eternal shame of the human 
race, and at the same time he presented the 
Ambassador with a letter of recommendation to 
the governor of Milan, which had been found 
amongst the papers of Renault with other letters 
of the Duke of Ossuno. 

The Marquis of Bedemar replied, as for the 
Duke of Ossuno, he had before declared he had 
no knowledge of his movements ; that it was true 
the French Ambassador had recommended to 
him a gentleman some time since, who having 
business of his own at Milan, and wishing for an 
introduction to the Governor^ he had given him 



10ft CONSPIRACY OF 

the letter they had just presented him, but that 
he was entirely ignorant the Republic had any 
concern in this affair. 

The Doge seeing by these replies that the 
Ambassador would never fail in excuses, was 
contented to represent to him with much gravity 
the turpitude of his enterprise, and ended by 
protesting he was far from thinking that the king 
his master had been the least concerned in it. 
The Marquis of Bedemar answered to this re- 
monstrance with all the emotion a man would 
feel whose honor was unjustly attacked, that he 
belonged to a nation to whom valor and prudence 
were so natural that they were under no neces- 
sity of resorting to artifices to overcome their 
enemies, that the king his master was powerful 
enough to destroy them by open force without 
employing treason, and they would soon feel the 
truth of it. He left them abruptly without any 
ceremony, after these words. Those who escort- 
ed him requested he would remain a short time 
in an adjoining apartment, while the Senate 
should give the necessary orders for his safety ; 
he allowed them to conduct him where they 
pleased, trembling with anger, and without re- 
plying. 

While the populace were assembling in the 
place of St. Mark to tear him in pieces, as soosk 



THE SPANIARDS. 103 

as the Senate should abandon him to their fury, 
it was easy for those who were sent to his house, 
to oblige his domestics to embark with his most 
valuable furniture. They then immediately came 
for him, and by secret passages in the palace 
conducted him to a brigantine well armed and 
with a good escort. The people, enraged at his 
escape, made effigies of him_ and the Duke of 
Ossuno, to which they offered all the cruelties 
that would have been inflicted on their persons 
had they fallen into the power of this multitude. 
At the same time orders were sent to the ad- 
miral to drown instantly L' Anglade, Pierre, and 
all the confidential officers of the Captain who 
were in his vessels. As it w^as supposed they 
would be on their guard, a vessel was chosen of 
the most foreign make that could be found in 
Venice, to take this order. They equipped it 
in a manner to deceive them into a belief that it 
came from some other place, and it made a circle 
round to arrive on the opposite side to what it 
would have done had it come from the city. It 
was afterward known that the Captain had been 
watching all night, and having seen the arrival 
of this ship, he had retired to the largest of his 
vessels as if he felt in doubt about it, and wished 
to defend himself if betrayed. But it appeared 
that the fear of losing all by a terror which 



104 CONSPIRACY OF 

might be groundless, had taken up sometime in 
deliberating whether he should at once offer re- 
sistance. And the Admiral, who lost not a mo- 
ment, having sent men whom he had chosen as 
being least suspicious, they entered without any 
apparent arms, and finding him alone they ap- 
proached him with as unconstrained an air as 
usual, and with one stroke stabbed him and 
threw him into the sea without being perceived 
by any one. L' Anglade and forty of his officers 
were soon treated in the same manner and with 
like secrecy. 

Renault being interrogated at Venice, replied 
that he knew nothing of what they wished to be 
informed. He was shown the letter of recom- 
mendation to Don Pedro, a passport in Spanish 
for all the countries under the dominion of Spain, 
letters of credit for large sums and a thousand 
pistoles in gold. He answered that he neither 
knew the Spanish Ambassador nor the Governor 
of Milan, and that if there was any thing 
amongst his papers concerning them some other 
person must have placed it there. As for the 
letters of credit and the pistoles, they were all 
the property he possessed in the world. They 
applied to him the question ordinary and extra- 
ordinary. He said nothing new but that he was 
a poor old man of quality and honor, and that 



THE SPANIARDS. 105 

God would avenge him. They put him to the 
rack many days in succession, and even promised 
him pardon if he would tell all he knew, but 
could extort nothing more from him, and after 
having been tormented in every way at many 
different times, he was strangled in prison, and 
publicly hung by one foot as a traitor. The 
lieutenant of the Count of Nassau, the three 
petardeers, Bribe, Laurent Brulard, and the two 
officers of the Arsenal suffered the same death 
after having sustained the torture with the same 
constancy ; but Brainville, Theodore, and more 
than three hundred officers were only strangled 
or drowned secretly. 

However, Jaffier, in despair at the bad success 
of his compassion, complained loudly that the 
Doge and the council of ten did not keep the 
word they had given him in favor of his com- 
panions. It had not been violated until after 
mature deliberation. Many even wished it to be 
religiously observed. Others remonstrated that 
the affair might have been doubtful if they had 
only known of the conspiracy through Jaffier ; 
but that the two Dauphinese having also reveal- 
ed it, the senate possessed the full right of acting 
as though Jaffier had discovered nothing. This 
ppinion prevailed, supported as it was, by public 



106 CONSPIRACY OP 

fright and horror, although much could be said 
on the opposite side. 

They endeavoured by every means, to appease 
Jaffier. They offered him money and employ- 
ment. He refused all, and was obstinate in use- 
lessly demanding the lives of his associates, and 
at last, left Venice inconsolable for their death. 
The senate, hearing of it, sent him an order to 
quit the states of the republic within three days, 
under penalty of his life, and 4000 sequins which 
they forced him to take. The pity which he felt 
for his companions was redoubled each time he 
considered that he was the cause of their death. 
He heard on the road that the attack upon Bresse 
was yet in a state to succeed. The desire of 
being revenged on the senate induced him to 
throw himself into this city ; but he was hardly 
there when the Ten having penetrated this affair, 
through the papers of the conspirators, sent troops 
who seized the principal posts- and put to the 
sword all the Spaniards who had been introduced 
there. Jaffier was taken fighting at their head, 
as a man who only sought to sell his life dearly, 
and being conducted in a few days to Venice, 
he was drowned the day after his arrival. 

The death of this unfortunate man having fin- 
ished establishing tranquillity in this great city, 



THE SPANIARDS. 107 

the first care of the senate was to demand anoth- 
er Ambassador from Madrid. Don Louis Bravo 
was soon named for the employment, with orders 
to depart instantly, and the Marquis of Bedemar 
gave him, according to custom, instructions which 
he reduced to nearly two points. First, that the 
new Ambassador should publicly blame, on all 
occasions, the conduct of his predecessor, and 
that he should affect one directly contrary even 
iu the most trivial affairs Secondly, in all the 
business he should transact, touching the rights 
and powers of the Republic, he should use as his 
notes, the *^ Squittinio dell a Libert a Veneta," to 
which the Marquis frequently alluded in these 
instructions, and although very discreetly, he 
evidently discovered the paternal love that he 
felt for this libel. 

There were proclamations by trumpets and by 
writing throughout all the states of the Republic, 
that every person was forbid under penalty of 
death, to impute any part of this conspiracy to 
the King of Spain, or to the Spaniards. They 
gave thirty thousand ducats to the two Dau- 
phinese who had come express from their country 
to discover it. 

Don Pedro, seeing the desperate state of all 
things, at last disbanded his troops, and gave up 



108 CONSPIRACY OF THE SPANIARDS. 

Verceil. The Duke of Ossuno made large pres- 
ents to the wife and children of Pierre, and set 
them at liberty. 

The Marquis of Bedemar received from Spain 
an order to proceed to Flanders as first minister, 
and some years afterward the Court of Rome 
presented him with a Cardinal's hat. 



^ 



